Medication Management by Visually Impaired Persons in the UAE: Self-Determination Practice and Law Demands
Main Article Content
Keywords
medicine information, visually impaired persons, self-determination
Abstract
People with visual impairment are highly prone to medication errors. Effective policies should support self-determination to provide appropriate means for this party to access medical information. Following the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, The UAE adopted a new policy to support the visually impaired.This study determined the challenges visually impaired individuals face, the likelihood of medication administration errors, and the methods used to cope with those challenges. It also required the relevant parties to provide visually impaired persons with medicinal information consistent with international and national law demands. A survey wasadministered to 94 visually impaired individuals using an interviewer-guided questionnaire. Also, a random sample of 75 frequently used medications was selected to check if Braille labels and the QR codes were available in the medications' boxes. The research demonstrated that Most visually impaired individuals do not receive adequate assistance with medication usage and have little knowledge of managing medications. As a result, there is an expected increase in medication errors or mismanagement in those individuals, despite the current advances in policy development in the UAE regarding visually impaired support. Therefore, developing effective strategies and policies is vital to assist this population when using medications.
References
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27. Owen R, Crabb C, Stober K, Mitchell D, Yamaki K, Heller T. Utilization of and Relationships With Primary Care Providers During the Transition to Medicaid Managed Care. Journal of Disability Policy Studies. 2020;31(2):67-76. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044207319880278
28. Pellegrini LC, Geissler KH. Disability, Federal Disability Benefits, and Health Care Access After the Affordable Care Act. Journal of Disability Policy Studies. 2021;31(4):244-54. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044207320919959
29. Qian X, Shogren K, Odejimi OA, Little T. Differences in Self-Determination Across Disability Categories: Findings From National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012. Journal of Disability Policy Studies. 2022;32(4):245-56. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044207320964396
30. RRA B, SR FTB, MV C, A D, JB J, J K, et al. Magnitude, temporal trends, and projections of the global prevalence of blindness and distance and near vision impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet. Global Health. 2017;5(9):e888-e897. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(17)30293-0
31. SA A. Self-medication practice among patients in a public health care system. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal. 2011;17(5):409-16. http://www.emro.who.int/emhj-volume-17/issue-5/article8.html
32. Shankar, P. R., Partha, P., & Shenoy, N. Self-medication and non-doctor prescription practices in Pokhara valley, Western Nepal: a questionnaire-based study. BMC Family Practice. 2002;3:1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2296-3-17
33. Smith MVA, Adams D, Carr C, Mengoni SE. Do people with intellectual disabilities understand their prescription medication? A scoping review. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 2019;32(6):1375-88. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12643
34. Smith SD, Hall JP, Kurth NK. Perspectives on Health Policy From People With Disabilities. Journal of Disability Policy Studies. 2021;32(3):224-32. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044207320956679
35. Weeraratne C, Opatha S, Rosa C. Challenges faced by visually disabled people in use of medicines, self-adopted coping strategies and medicine-related mishaps. WHO South-East Asia Journal of Public Health. 2012;1(3):256. https://doi.org/10.4103/2224-3151.207022
36. Zhi-Han L, Hui-Yin Y, Makmor-Bakry M. Medication-handling challenges among visually impaired population. Archives of Pharmacy Practice. 2017;8(1):8. https://doi.org/10.4103/2045-080x.199613
2. Al-Quwayfili NI, Al-Khalifa HS. AraMedReader: An Arabic Medicine Identifier Using Barcodes. Communications in Computer and Information Science. 2014; :383-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07854-0_67
3. Al Aqeel S, Abanmy N, Aldayel A, Al-Khalifa H, Al-Yahya M, Diab M. Readability of written medicine information materials in Arabic language: Expert and consumer evaluation. BMC Health Services Research. 2018;18(1):1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-2944-x
4. Almukainzi M, Almuhareb A, Aldwisan F, Alquaydhib W. Medication use patterns in the visually impaired in Saudi Arabia and the importance of applying Braille labeling. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal. 2020;28(3):274-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2020.01.006
5. Almuzaini MA, Abdullah-Al-Wadud M. A Review on Medication Identification Techniques for Visually Impaired Patients. 21st Saudi Computer Society National Computer Conference, NCC 2018. https://doi.org/10.1109/NCG.2018.8593193
6. Apoorva R, Vasundara K, RS U. A study on medication adherence, medication related challenges faced and coping strategies adopted by visually impaired subjects in a tertiary care hospital. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology. 2017;6(10):2323. https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20174100
7. Ayoubi L. Human Rights Perspectives on Access of the Blind, Visually Impaired and Other Reading Disabled Persons to Copyrighted Materials [Lund University]. In SSRN Electronic Journal. 2012; https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1927825
8. Beverley CA, Bath PA, Barber R. Health and social care information for visually-impaired people. Aslib Proceedings: New Information Perspectives. 2011;63(2-3):256-74. https://doi.org/10.1108/00012531111135691
9. Bin Battal ZM. Special Education in Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Technology and Inclusive Education. 2016;5(2):880-6. https://doi.org/10.20533/ijtie.2047.0533.2016.0113
10. Brehmer-Rinderer B, Zigrovic L, Naue U, Weber G. Promoting Health of Persons With Intellectual Disabilities Using the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities: Early Implementation Assessment in Spain and Hungary. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities. 2013;10(1):25-36. https://doi.org/10.1111/JPPI.12018
11. Bruce SM, Parker AT. Young deafblind adults in action: Becoming self-determined change agents through advocacy. American Annals of the Deaf. 2012;157(1):16-26. https://doi.org/10.1353/AAD.2012.1607
12. Cmar JL, Markoski K. Promoting Self-Determination for Students with Visual Impairments: A Review of the Literature. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness. 2019;113(2):100-13. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X19839796
13. Conn VS. Self-management of over-the-counter medications by older adults. Public Health Nursing (Boston, Mass.). 1992;9(1):29-36. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1525-1446.1992.TB00069.X
14. Court H, McLean G, Guthrie B, Mercer SW, Smith DJ. Visual impairment is associated with physical and mental comorbidities in older adults: a cross-sectional study. BMC Medicine. 2014;12(1):1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12916-014-0181-7
15. Devasahayam AJ, Wallack EM, Ploughman M. Gaps in Medicare and the Social Safety Net Predict Financial Strain Among Older Canadians With Multiple Sclerosis. Journal of Disability Policy Studies. 2020;31(2):77-86. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044207319893621
16. Donaldson N. Visually impaired individuals’ perspectives on obtaining and maintaining employment. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering. 2018;79(1-B(E)), No-Specified. http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&PAGE=reference&D=psyc15&NEWS=N&AN=2017-54456-005
17. Gooding P. The Right to Independent Living and being included in the Community: Lessons from the United Nations. International Journal of Mental Health and Capacity Law. 2018;2018(24):32. https://doi.org/10.19164/ijmhcl.v2018i24.747
18. Kanter AS. Let’s Try Again: Why the United States Should Ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. Touro Law Review. 2019;35(1):301-43.
19. Kentab BY, Al-Rowiali KZ, Al-Harbi RA, Al-Shammari NH, Balhareth WM, Al-Yazeed HF. Exploring medication use by blind patients in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal. 2015;23(1):102-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2014.05.002
20. Köbsell S. Towards Self-Determination and Equalization: A Short History of the German Disability Rights Movement. Disability Studies Quaterly. 2006;26(2).
21. Kohn NA. Legislating Supported Decision-Making. Harvard Journal on Legislation. 2021;58(2):313-56. https://doi.org/10.2139/SSRN.3768684
22. Lee BH, Lee YJ. Evaluation of medication use and pharmacy services for visually impaired persons: Perspectives from both visually impaired and community pharmacists. Disability and Health Journal. 2019;12(1):79-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2018.07.012
23. McDonnall MC, Crudden A. Factors affecting the successful employment of transition-age youths with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness. 2009;103(6):329-41. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482x0910300603
24. Nedovic T, Umeri-Sali N, Denecke K. Supporting blind and visually impaired persons in managing their medication. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics. 2019;267:189-96. https://doi.org/10.3233/SHTI190826
25. Németh G. et al. Automated Drug Information System for Aged and Visually Impaired Persons. Computers Helping People with Special Needs. 2008;2533-6. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-70540-6
26. Németh G, Olaszy G, Bartalis M, Kiss G, Zainkó C, Mihajlik P, et al. Automated drug information system for aged and visually impaired persons. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (Including Subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics), 5105 LNCS. 2008;238-241. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-70540-6_35
27. Owen R, Crabb C, Stober K, Mitchell D, Yamaki K, Heller T. Utilization of and Relationships With Primary Care Providers During the Transition to Medicaid Managed Care. Journal of Disability Policy Studies. 2020;31(2):67-76. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044207319880278
28. Pellegrini LC, Geissler KH. Disability, Federal Disability Benefits, and Health Care Access After the Affordable Care Act. Journal of Disability Policy Studies. 2021;31(4):244-54. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044207320919959
29. Qian X, Shogren K, Odejimi OA, Little T. Differences in Self-Determination Across Disability Categories: Findings From National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012. Journal of Disability Policy Studies. 2022;32(4):245-56. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044207320964396
30. RRA B, SR FTB, MV C, A D, JB J, J K, et al. Magnitude, temporal trends, and projections of the global prevalence of blindness and distance and near vision impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet. Global Health. 2017;5(9):e888-e897. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(17)30293-0
31. SA A. Self-medication practice among patients in a public health care system. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal. 2011;17(5):409-16. http://www.emro.who.int/emhj-volume-17/issue-5/article8.html
32. Shankar, P. R., Partha, P., & Shenoy, N. Self-medication and non-doctor prescription practices in Pokhara valley, Western Nepal: a questionnaire-based study. BMC Family Practice. 2002;3:1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2296-3-17
33. Smith MVA, Adams D, Carr C, Mengoni SE. Do people with intellectual disabilities understand their prescription medication? A scoping review. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 2019;32(6):1375-88. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12643
34. Smith SD, Hall JP, Kurth NK. Perspectives on Health Policy From People With Disabilities. Journal of Disability Policy Studies. 2021;32(3):224-32. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044207320956679
35. Weeraratne C, Opatha S, Rosa C. Challenges faced by visually disabled people in use of medicines, self-adopted coping strategies and medicine-related mishaps. WHO South-East Asia Journal of Public Health. 2012;1(3):256. https://doi.org/10.4103/2224-3151.207022
36. Zhi-Han L, Hui-Yin Y, Makmor-Bakry M. Medication-handling challenges among visually impaired population. Archives of Pharmacy Practice. 2017;8(1):8. https://doi.org/10.4103/2045-080x.199613
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Feb 28, 2025
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Medication Management by Visually Impaired Persons in the UAE: Self-Determination Practice and Law Demands. Pharm Pract (Granada) [Internet]. 2025 Feb. 28 [cited 2025 Apr. 21];23(1):1-10. Available from: https://pharmacypractice.org/index.php/pp/article/view/3028
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How to Cite
1.
Medication Management by Visually Impaired Persons in the UAE: Self-Determination Practice and Law Demands. Pharm Pract (Granada) [Internet]. 2025 Feb. 28 [cited 2025 Apr. 21];23(1):1-10. Available from: https://pharmacypractice.org/index.php/pp/article/view/3028