Effectiveness of Interventions to Promote Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract

Objective:To assess the effectiveness of interventions aimed to increase retinal screening among people with diabetes. Methods:A systematic literature search was conducted of multiple electronic bibliographic databases up to May 2005. Studies were included if interventions were used to promote screening for diabetic retinopathy in any language and with any study design. Results:Forty-eight studies (12 randomized controlled trials [RCTs], four nonrandomized studies, and 32 pre-post studies) with a total of 162,157 participants, examined a wide range of interventions, which focused on one or more of the following: (1) patients or populations, (2) providers or practices, and (3)

Non-attendance at diabetic eye screening and risk of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy: a population-based cohort study

“…Clinical and organisational factors may also play a role in non-attendance and the outcomes of nonattendance, although we do not have the data to explore this here. A systematic review of interventions to improve uptake of diabetic eye screening found that the interventions that were effective increased patients' and clinicians' awareness of screening, improved access to healthcare, introduced computer-based registration or reminder systems, facilitated local collaborations between service providers, and developed community-based healthcare systems [21]. Some research has suggested that biennial screening may be suitable for some patients [22,23].…”

The geographic distribution of eye care providers in the United States: Implications for a national strategy to improve vision health

“…The Vision Health Initiative (VHI) of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a national public health strategy for improving vision health in the US. Since community characteristics such as the local availability of health care providers influence the use of health care services and the effectiveness of public health interventions, one of the recommendations in the VHI strategy is to determine the patterns of local eye care provider availability in the US in order to develop and disseminate public health interventions that are effective in these contexts (Gohdes et al, 2005;Layde et al, 2012;Prevent Blindness America and National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, 2005;Prevent Blindness America, 2004;US Centers for Disease Control, 2009;Zhang et al, 2007Zhang et al, , 2008.…”

Socioeconomic factors associated with visual impairment and ophthalmic care utilization in patients with type II diabetes

“…9 Based on clinical efficiency and economic benefit, annual screening by an ophthalmologist is strongly recommended for all patients with diabetes. 2,8,10,11 However, underuse of clinical examinations has been observed at both provincial and national levels in Canada. 2,12,13 Various barriers to ophthalmic clinical care have been identified, but lower socioeconomic status (SES) is thought to be one of the major factors associated with the failure to see an ophthalmologist.…”