This call for evidence will support a programme of work funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research to identify and map elements of acquired brain injury (ABI) service delivery. The focus is around the detection and management of visual impairment (VI) and collaborative practices capturing care resources involved to scope potential care costs. In addition, this study will explore patient and/or carer experience of care and services, the impact of care on quality of life and identify barriers and facilitators to access to and delivery of care services for VI due to ABI.

We welcome views and experiences from any organisation who delivers or supports adults or children with VI as a result of ABI.

The easiest way to participate in this call for evidence is by completing this form: https://forms.office.com/e/5T6BR6vy6g.

This call for evidence forms part of the wider activity to obtain further evidence to understand the scope of service delivery around the detection, management and care of VI and will be used to make recommendations for the future of VI care and management for these two populations. We would like you to be involved in this project and it will make a great contribution to this piece of work.

Context

Vision problems are common in patients with ABI. Early assessment, management and support is necessary to maximise visual capabilities and promote engagement and interaction. Delay in visual diagnosis and management for children can result in lifelong consequences and for both adults and children can impact on rehabilitation potential.

Service delivery includes but is not limited to the detection and management of visual impairment in patients with ABI, third sector support and education. This review of evidence aims to outline the components of service delivery models, including screening and specialist tests, settings of delivery, staff involvement, timing of assessment and follow-up, referral pathways, and clinical and cost outcomes. Evidence to be included will cover hospital and community settings, as well as educational and home settings.

Scope

We want to ensure that any recommendations we make are underpinned by as much evidence as we can gather. The evidence gathered will be used to make recommendations for the future of VI detection, management and care for these two populations (individuals with visual impairment due to ABI).

We understand that sometimes care, support and management is delivered through organisations who might not have the funding or capacity to publish information about their services. This is why we are reaching out to gather evidence in this way.

What we need

For this piece of work, ABI is defined as being caused by acute events occurring after the peri-natal period (i.e. > 1 month old), inclusive of focal injury (stroke, tumours), traumatic injury and central nervous system infections but not generic, congenital, peri-natal causes.

Therefore, we welcome responses from professionals or organisations involved in the delivery of services for VI as a result of ABI.

The areas set out below addresses the questions targeted by our review. We are interested in a broad range of evidence including but not limited to, reports, service evaluations, audits, guidance, quality standards and practice recommendations in any of the following areas relating to VI as a result of ABI:

• Elements of services around the detection, management and care including the people involved in delivering these services
• Collaborative practices
• Patient and/or carer experience of care and services
• Impact of care and services on the quality of life for patients and/or carers.
• Barriers and facilitators of accessing and delivery of care services

We would like to know about any related research including any ongoing research. We cannot accept promotional materials, non-evidence-based assertions of effectiveness or opinion pieces.

How to Respond

• Complete the call for evidence form: https://forms.office.com/e/5T6BR6vy6g
• If you have any issues, please contact the study Chief Investigator, lauren.hepworth@liverpool.ac.uk