scholarly journals Feasibility of a multifaceted implementation intervention to improve attendance at diabetic retinopathy screening in primary care in Ireland: a cluster randomised pilot trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e051951
Author(s):  
Fiona Riordan ◽  
Aileen Murphy ◽  
Christina Dillon ◽  
John Browne ◽  
Patricia M Kearney ◽  
...  

ObjectivesDiabetic retinopathy screening (DRS) uptake is suboptimal in many countries with limited evidence available on interventions to enhance DRS uptake in primary care. We investigated the feasibility and preliminary effects of an intervention to improve uptake of Ireland’s national DRS programme, Diabetic RetinaScreen, among patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.Design/settingWe conducted a cluster randomised pilot trial, embedded process evaluation and cost analysis in general practice, July 2019 to January 2020.ParticipantsEight practices participated in the trial. For the process evaluation, surveys were conducted with 25 staff at intervention practices. Interviews were conducted with nine staff at intervention practices, and 10 patients who received the intervention.InterventionsThe intervention comprised practice reimbursement, an audit of attendance, electronic prompts targeting professionals, General Practice-endorsed patient reminders and a patient information leaflet. Practices were randomly allocated to intervention (n=4) or wait-list control (n=4) (usual care).OutcomesStaff and patient interviews explored their perspectives on the intervention. Patient registration and attendance, including intention to attend, were measured at baseline and 6 months. Microcosting was used to estimate intervention delivery cost.ResultsThe process evaluation identified that enablers of feasibility included practice culture and capacity to protect time, systems to organise care, and staff skills, and workarounds to improve intervention ‘fit’. At 6 months, 22/71 (31%) of baseline non-attenders in intervention practices subsequently attended screening compared with 15/87 (17%) in control practices. The total delivery cost across intervention practices (patients=363) was €2509, averaging €627 per practice and €6.91 per audited patient. Continuation criteria supported proceeding to a definitive trial.ConclusionsThe Improving Diabetes Eye screening Attendance intervention is feasible in primary care; however, consideration should be given to how best to facilitate local tailoring. A definitive trial of clinical and cost-effectiveness is required with preliminary results suggesting a positive effect on uptake.Trial registration numberNCT03901898.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vess Stamenova ◽  
Megan Nguyen ◽  
Nike Onabajo ◽  
Rebecca Merritt ◽  
Olivera Sutakovic ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among adults, but vision loss is preventable through regular screening. Urban areas in Canada have large numbers of unscreened individuals and teleophthalmology programs have been used to improve access and uptake of screening. The purpose of this study was to test different patient engagement approaches to expand teleophthalmology program to team-based primary care clinic in the city of Toronto, Canada.Methods: A teleophthalmology program was set up in a large urban academic team-based primary care practice. Patients over 18 years of age, with type 1 or type 2 diabetes were randomized to one of four engagement strategies: a phone call, a letter, a letter plus phone call, or usual care. Outreach was conducted by administrative staff within the clinic. The primary outcome was booking an appointment for diabetic retinopathy screening through a teleophthalmology program at the time of the call or within one week for the mail intervention. Results: A total of 23 patients in the phone, 28 in the mail, 32 in the mail and phone, and 27 in the control (usual care) were included in the analysis. After the intervention, 88% of patients in the phone intervention, 11% of patients in the mail group, and 100% in the mail and phone group booked an appointment with the teleophthalmology program compared to 0% in the control group. Phoning patients positively predicted patients booking a teleophthalmology appointment (p< .0001), while sending a letter had no effect. Conclusions: Patient engagement to book diabetic retinopathy screening via teleophthalmology in an urban academic team-based primary care practice using telephone calls was much more effective than letters or usual care. Practices that have access to a local DR screening programs and have the required resources to undertake such engagement strategies should consider using them as a means in improving their DR screening rates.


Author(s):  
Márcia Silva Queiroz ◽  
Jacira Xavier de Carvalho ◽  
Silvia Ferreira Bortoto ◽  
Mozania Reis de Matos ◽  
Cristiane das Graças Dias Cavalcante ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marsha Tracey ◽  
Emmy Racine ◽  
Fiona Riordan ◽  
Sheena M. McHugh ◽  
Patricia M. Kearney

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) affects 8.2% of the Irish population with type 2 diabetes over 50 years and is one of the leading causes of blindness among working-age adults. Regular diabetic retinopathy screening (DRS) can reduce the risk of sight loss. In 2013, the new national screening programme (RetinaScreen) was introduced in Ireland. Maximising DRS uptake (consent to participate in the programme and attendance once invited) is a priority, therefore it is important to identify characteristics which determine DRS uptake among those with diabetes in Ireland. We report uptake in an Irish primary care population during the initial phase of implementation of RetinaScreen and investigate factors which predict consenting to participate in the programme. Methods:  In two primary care practices, data were extracted from records of people with diabetes (type 1 and type 2) aged ≥18 years who were eligible to participate in RetinaScreen between November 2013 and August 2015. Records were checked for a RetinaScreen letter. RetinaScreen were contacted to establish the status of those without a letter on file. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to examine associations between socio-demographic variables and consenting. Adjusted incident rate ratios (IRR) with 95% CI were generated as a measure of association. Results: Of 722 people with diabetes, one fifth (n=141) were not registered with RetinaScreen. Of 582 who were registered, 63% (n=365) had participated in screening. Most people who consented subsequently attended (n=365/382, 96%). People who had attended another retinopathy screening service were less likely to consent (IRR 0.65 [95%CI 0.5-0.8]; p<0.001). Other predictors were not significantly associated with consent. Conclusions: Over one third of people eligible to participate in RetinaScreen had not consented. Research is needed to understand barriers and enablers of DRS uptake in the Irish context. Implementing strategies to improve DRS uptake (consent and attendance) should be a priority.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marsha Tracey ◽  
Emmy Racine ◽  
Fiona Riordan ◽  
Sheena M. McHugh ◽  
Patricia M. Kearney

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is estimated to affect 25–26% of the Irish population with diabetes and is one of the leading causes of blindness among working-age adults. Regular diabetic retinopathy screening (DRS) can reduce the risk of sight loss. In 2013, the new national screening programme (RetinaScreen) was introduced in Ireland. Maximising DRS uptake (consent to participate in the programme and attendance once invited) is a priority, therefore it is important to identify characteristics which determine DRS uptake among those with diabetes in Ireland. We report uptake in an Irish primary care population during the initial phase of implementation of RetinaScreen and investigate factors which predict consenting to participate in the programme. Methods: In two primary care practices, data were extracted from records of people with diabetes (type 1 and type 2) aged ≥18 years who were eligible to participate in RetinaScreen between November 2013 and August 2015. Records were checked for a RetinaScreen letter. RetinaScreen were contacted to establish the status of those without a letter on file. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to examine associations between socio-demographic variables and consenting. Adjusted incident rate ratios (IRR) with 95% CI were generated as a measure of association. Results: Of 722 people with diabetes, one fifth (n=141) were not registered with RetinaScreen. Of 582 who were registered, 63% (n=365) had participated in screening. Most people who consented subsequently attended (n=365/382, 96%). People who had attended another retinopathy screening service were less likely to consent (IRR 0.65 [95%CI 0.5-0.8]; p<0.001). Other predictors were not significantly associated with consent. Conclusions: Over one third of eligible participants in RetinaScreen had not consented. Research is needed to understand barriers and enablers of DRS uptake in the Irish context. Implementing strategies to improve DRS uptake, barriers to consent in particular, should be a priority.


2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (11) ◽  
pp. e274-e277
Author(s):  
Jose Agustin Martinez ◽  
Pooja D. Parikh ◽  
Robert W. Wong ◽  
Clio A. Harper ◽  
James W. Dooner ◽  
...  

Diabetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 604-P
Author(s):  
JAMES C. LIU ◽  
SHAWN RAMCHAL ◽  
ELLA GIBSON ◽  
JESSICA KUO ◽  
KAUSHAL SOLANKI ◽  
...  

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