The opinions of the blind and visually impaired people about their experiences with professionals in health facilities

Termin oštećenja vida obuhvaća mnoga različita stanja i stupnjeve oštećenja vida: od visoke slabovidnosti do potpunog gubitka vida. S obzirom na vrstu i razinu oštećenja vida uobičajeno je upotreba riječi slabovidna ili slijepa osoba. Danas u Republici Hrvatskoj broji se oko 15000 slabovidnih, te oko 5900 slijepih osoba. Cilj ovog istraživanja jest utvrditi stavove slijepih i slabovidnih osoba o iskustvima s djelatnicima u zdravstvenim ustanovama. Paralelno, istražuje se i mišljenje o redovitom školovanju, sposobnostima za samostalan život, problemima s kojim se suočavaju u svakodnevnom životu. Istraživanjem se želi dobiti uvid o integraciji slijepih osoba u društvo, odnosu zdravstvenih djelatnika prema slijepim i slabovidnim osobama te razini poštivanja privatnosti od strane medicinskog osoblja. U istraživanje je bilo uključeno 122 ispitanika, a provedeno je na području općine Orehovica i u Udruzi slijepih Međimurske županije. Istraživanje je provedeno pomoću kvantitativne metode, odnosno anonimne ankete koja se sastojala od šesnaest pitanja, zatvorenog oblika. Rezultati koji su dobiveni obradom podataka ukazuju na to da su slijepe i slabovidne osobe svjesne svoje situacije u društvu te problema s kojim se suočavaju u svakodnevnom životu.The term visual impairment includes many different states and degrees of visual impairment; from severe low vision to complete loss of vision. With respect to the type and level of visual impairment it is common to use the terms partially sighted or blind person. Today in Croatia, there are about 15,000 partially sighted and about 5,900 blind people. The aim of this study is to determine the views of the blind and partially sighted people about their experiences with professionals in health facilities. In addition, the study researches the opinion of the blind and partially sighted people on regular education, skills needed for independent living and problems they face in everyday life. The research seeks to gain insight on the integration of blind people in society, the attitude of health care professionals to visually impaired people and the level of respect of privacy by medical personnel. The study involved 122 examinees and was conducted in the municipality of Orehovica and the Association of the Blind of Međimurje County. The study was conducted using the quantitative method, i.e. anonymous survey which consisted of sixteen closed-form questions. The results obtained by processing data suggest that the blind and partially sighted people are aware of their situation in society and the problems they face in everyday life