Power and self-perceived health in blind diabetic and nondiabetic individuals

Aims. The aims of this study were: (1) to explore perceptions of power in b lind individuals and relate presence or absence of power to self-perceived health and (2) to compare self-perceived health in blind individuals with t hat of the general population. Background. The theoretical framework of this study was Barrett's Power the ory, which is based on The Rogerian nursing theory. Power is defined as bei ng aware of what one is choosing to do, feeling free to doing it, and do it intentionally. Methods. Thirty-nine blind subjects at three adjacent ophthalmology centres agreed to participate in the study. Of those 23 had become blind because o f late complications of diabetes. Power was explored during semi-structured interviews and self-perceived health was measured with the Swedish health- related quality of life questionnaire. Data on socio-economic, rehabilitati ve and diabetes-related variables were also collected. Findings. Power was experienced by 19 of the 39 respondents and was more fr equently found in nondiabetic subjects than in diabetic subjects. Those exp eriencing power reported a better emotional and general health compared wit h individuals lacking power. The perception of having power was not signifi cantly related to any other of the studied variables. When compared with ag e- and gender-matched controls from the general population, nondiabetic bli nd subjects scored higher in positive feelings and lower in physical functi oning. In contrast diabetic subjects experienced poorer general health, les s satisfaction with physical health and more negative feelings, but they re ported that they did not experience limitation as a result of these emotion s. Conclusion. One way of improving health in diabetic blind individuals could be to increase the subject's perception of power.