Discipline of Optometry and Vision Science
Honours Project
Title: Identifying content for the cataract-specific item bank to measure quality of life
Brief outline of the project:
Cataract is the leading cause of avoidable blindness in the world. It is responsible for an estimated 39% and 13% of blindness inthe world and Australia respectively.Surgical removal of cataract is the only treatment option available. In the past two decades, cataract surgery evolved into a safe, predictable and quick procedure with immediate benefits. However, due to huge backlog of cataract patients worldwide,timely surgery is not possible to all the people in need. Studies show that millions of people around the world are living with a period of severe visual impairment due to cataract and consequently poor quality of life (QOL). On the other hand, in developed countries, surgeries are being carried out at an earlier stage of cataract maturation due to increase visual demand to cope with modern lifestyles. In both instances, it is important to measure the effect of cataract and the benefit of cataract surgeryon quality of life from patients’ perspectives.
Patient-reported outcome (PRO)is increasingly being accepted as an important part of outcome evaluation incataract surgery. The PROis often measured using questionnaires. To date, twelve cataract specific questionnaires have been developed and several other non-cataract specific questionnaires have been used in cataract outcome studies. However, evidence suggests that existing questionnaires are not able to capture the benefit of cataract surgery adequately because they were developed when surgeries were carried out at the later stages of cataract maturation.Moreover,none of the questionnairesoffer a comprehensive and precise assessment of QOL in people with cataract. Therefore there is a clear need for a better questionnaire. An innovative approach called item banking with computer adaptive testing (CAT) offers a scientifically improved approach to measuring the patient’s point of view compared to old-fashioned questionnaires. Therefore, the overarching aim of the study is to develop an item bank to enable comprehensive, efficient and precise measurement of QOL in patients with cataract.
The first phase of the study is to identify content (items) for the cataract-specific item bank. This involves qualitative approaches (literature review and focus groups with patients and experts). The student will conduct a thorough literature review to identify existingcontent. The student will recruit people with cataract from clinical settings and participate in conducting and recording focus groups. Focus group output will be transcribed and analysed to identify new content. All content will then be aggregated and refined into a pilot questionnaire.
Key references
- Lundstrom M, Pesudovs K. Questionnaires for measuring cataract surgery outcomes. J Cataract Refract Surg 2011;37:945-959.
- Pesudovs K. Item banking: a generational change in patient-reported outcome measurement. Optom Vis Sci 2010;87:285-293.
- Wainer H. Computerized adaptive testing. A primer. 2nd ed. Mahway, NJ: Lawerance Erlbaum; 2000.
- Krueger R.A. Focus groups: a practical guide for applied research. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks,Calif: Sage Publications, c1994.
Supervisor/co-supervisor’s contact details:
Prof Konrad Pesudovs, Discipline of Optometry and Vision Science, Flinders Medical Centre; Phone: 08 8204 5732; Email:
Dr Jyoti Khadka, Discipline of Optometry and Vision Science, Flinders Medical Centre; Phone: 08 8204 5730; Email: