Attitude and Concerns Toward Visual Quality Improvement in Sport Engagement Among Student Athletes in Taiwan: A Qualitative Exploration

Abstract

Visual quality (VQ), a critical function in sports, has become a focal point for athletes pursuing better performance. This study explored how athletes perceived the importance of VQ and their concerns upon VQ improvement behaviors. Optometry was performed with all participants by the first author prior to data collection to examine objective vision condition and needs. Adopting the qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews, the authors conducted in-depth interviews with four college student athletes needing VQ improvement. All interviews were converted into verbatim transcripts; content analysis was conducted based on open coding. Topics were identified and classified into categories then developed into domains based on relationship among categories. Results indicated that as follows: (a) Participants all agreed that VQ would affect their performance and wore contact lenses when engaging in sports. (b) While wearing contacts, participants experienced decrease in VQ indicators including vision, clarity, comfort, and stableness, which in term affects sports performance. (C) Very few athletes would take actions to improve VQ because of money and time cost, whereas trading for limited effects. Furthermore, lacking of professional service while selecting contact lenses contributed to compromised corneal curvature or comfort. Conclusion: Participants were in the contemplative stages and not yet in the “action stage” according to the Transtheoretical Model of change due to insufficient clinical knowledge. Furthermore, low motivation in improving VQ could be explained by the Expectancy–Value theory since all participants were not in the elite level and might have lower motivation to improve their VQ to enhance their sports performance.