2A-01 - Assessment of Medication Management Challenges and Technology Readiness Among Visually Impaired Persons: A Cross-sectional Survey Using a Validated IMPACT-VIP Questionnaire

Background: Visually impaired persons face medication management challenges due to inaccessible health information and limited assistive technologies. A validated tool is needed to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding medication safety.

Objectives: To develop and validate a questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding medication safety and self-medication behaviors among visually impaired persons.

Methods: This study developed a 32-item questionnaire in English, Braille, and Kannada covering health information accessibility, self-administration practices, and QR code usage. Content and face validation were performed by 10 healthcare professionals and 44 participants (mix of general public and visually impaired persons) using Content Validity Index (CVI), Face Validity Index (FVI), and modified kappa statistics (k>0.74), with statistical significance set at p< 0.05.

Results: The 32-item IMPACT-VIP (Investigating Medication Practices, Attitudes, and Challenges in Treatment among Visually Impaired Persons) questionnaire, developed in both English and Braille following the Barile-Lili format, comprised knowledge (12 items), attitude (10 items), and practice (10 items) sections. Validation results demonstrated robust metrics: item-level CVI exceeded 0.79 for all items, with scale-level CVI surpassing 0.80. Expert healthcare professionals rated content validity at 100% (S-CVI/Ave), while general public and VIP reviewers rated at 99%. Internal consistency was strong with modified kappa of 0.74, and face validity showed excellence (S-FVI=99%, ambiguity index=99%). Domain-specific analysis revealed consistently high Universal Agreement (UA=100%) across knowledge items (k=0.82), attitude assessment (k=0.78), and practice evaluation (k=0.76). The probability of chance agreement was negligible (Pc=0.00098), with inter-rater reliability coefficient α=0.92, demonstrating the questionnaire's robust reliability for assessing medication safety behaviors among visually impaired persons in both written and tactile formats.

Conclusions: The IMPACT-VIP questionnaire demonstrated robust validity and reliability metrics, making it a comprehensive tool for evaluating medication safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices among visually impaired persons. Its availability in both English and Braille formats, coupled with strong psychometric properties, ensures its utility for future research and interventions aimed at improving medication safety and healthcare accessibility in this population.