An Innovative Australian Outreach Model of Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Remote Communities
Background. Up to 98% of visual loss secondary to diabetic retinopathy (DR) can be prevented with early detection and treatment. Despite this, less than 50% of Australian and American diabetics receive appropriate screening. Diabetic patients living in rural and remote communities are further disadv...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Diabetes Research |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/1267215 |
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| author | Nicola M. Glasson Lisa J. Crossland Sarah L. Larkins |
| author_facet | Nicola M. Glasson Lisa J. Crossland Sarah L. Larkins |
| author_sort | Nicola M. Glasson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background. Up to 98% of visual loss secondary to diabetic retinopathy (DR) can be prevented with early detection and treatment. Despite this, less than 50% of Australian and American diabetics receive appropriate screening. Diabetic patients living in rural and remote communities are further disadvantaged by limited access to ophthalmology services. Research Design and Methods. DR screening using a nonmydriatic fundal camera was performed as part of a multidisciplinary diabetes service already visiting remote communities. Images were onforwarded to a distant general practitioner who identified and graded retinopathy, with screen-positive patients referred to ophthalmology. This retrospective, descriptive study aims to compare the proportion of remote diabetic patients receiving appropriate DR screening prior to and following implementation of the service. Results. Of the 141 patients in 11 communities who underwent DR screening, 16.3% had received appropriate DR screening prior to the implementation of the service. In addition, 36.2% of patients had never been screened. Following the introduction of the service, 66.3% of patients underwent appropriate DR screening (p=0.00025). Conclusion. This innovative model has greatly improved accessibility to DR screening in remote communities, thereby reducing preventable blindness. It provides a holistic, locally appropriate diabetes service and utilises existing infrastructure and health workforce more efficiently. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c5e548991d25441ab8e68668e27e0d89 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2314-6745 2314-6753 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Diabetes Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-c5e548991d25441ab8e68668e27e0d892025-08-20T03:22:42ZengWileyJournal of Diabetes Research2314-67452314-67532016-01-01201610.1155/2016/12672151267215An Innovative Australian Outreach Model of Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Remote CommunitiesNicola M. Glasson0Lisa J. Crossland1Sarah L. Larkins2College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville City, QLD 4811, AustraliaDiscipline of General Practice, University of Queensland, Level 8 Health Sciences Building, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, QLD 4029, AustraliaCollege of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville City, QLD 4811, AustraliaBackground. Up to 98% of visual loss secondary to diabetic retinopathy (DR) can be prevented with early detection and treatment. Despite this, less than 50% of Australian and American diabetics receive appropriate screening. Diabetic patients living in rural and remote communities are further disadvantaged by limited access to ophthalmology services. Research Design and Methods. DR screening using a nonmydriatic fundal camera was performed as part of a multidisciplinary diabetes service already visiting remote communities. Images were onforwarded to a distant general practitioner who identified and graded retinopathy, with screen-positive patients referred to ophthalmology. This retrospective, descriptive study aims to compare the proportion of remote diabetic patients receiving appropriate DR screening prior to and following implementation of the service. Results. Of the 141 patients in 11 communities who underwent DR screening, 16.3% had received appropriate DR screening prior to the implementation of the service. In addition, 36.2% of patients had never been screened. Following the introduction of the service, 66.3% of patients underwent appropriate DR screening (p=0.00025). Conclusion. This innovative model has greatly improved accessibility to DR screening in remote communities, thereby reducing preventable blindness. It provides a holistic, locally appropriate diabetes service and utilises existing infrastructure and health workforce more efficiently.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/1267215 |
| spellingShingle | Nicola M. Glasson Lisa J. Crossland Sarah L. Larkins An Innovative Australian Outreach Model of Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Remote Communities Journal of Diabetes Research |
| title | An Innovative Australian Outreach Model of Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Remote Communities |
| title_full | An Innovative Australian Outreach Model of Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Remote Communities |
| title_fullStr | An Innovative Australian Outreach Model of Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Remote Communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Innovative Australian Outreach Model of Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Remote Communities |
| title_short | An Innovative Australian Outreach Model of Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Remote Communities |
| title_sort | innovative australian outreach model of diabetic retinopathy screening in remote communities |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/1267215 |
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