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Module 3: Reducing Patient Barriers to Care

It is clear that many barriers exist to patients in some populations who need access to eye care.  But how can we address these barriers effectively?  As we have already established, an evidence-based methodology is mandatory.  What has research shown us about patient barriers to care?

1. Cost: Research by Lee and colleagues suggests that the best way to address the cost barrier is to work toward securing health insurance coverage for the 46.6 million Americans who do not yet have it.(1)  This can help reduce or eliminate the out-of-pocket cost of eye care and facilitate the beginning of regular eye exams. 
2. Lack of Education and Awareness: “Improving provider-patient interactions and developing public health messages about eye diseases and preventive eye care can facilitate increased use of appropriate eye care services,” according to research by Alexander and colleagues.(2)  By promoting awareness within communities about eye problems and how they can be treated by doctors, organizations can help combat some of the myths that exist about eye care.  People must be made aware of the fact that impaired sight can be corrected by medical intervention in many cases, and that they have the right and the ability to seek help.
3. Fear: Fear of care providers and medical practices surrounding eye care can be addressed through the educational and publicity programs.
4. Language: Research by Jacobs and colleagues suggests that the ad-hoc interpretation services used by most healthcare organizations or clinics can have negative consequences.  They recommend that professional interpreters be used in a clinical setting, even though they are more expensive than patients’ family members or volunteers. Their study found that “patients who used the interpreter services received significantly more recommended preventive services, made more office visits, and had more prescriptions written and filled.”(3)  They also suggest that the cost of most interpretation services is around $35 per session, which is modest compared with the benefits for the clinic and the patient.

Go To Module 4: The Importance of Eye Health Education >>

Footnotes

Evidence-Based Community Eye Health Online Course

• Table of Contents
• Module 1
• Module 2
• Module 3
• Module 4
• Module 5
• Module 6