The effect of health education on the rate of ophthalmic examinations among African Americans with diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated a multicomponent educational intervention to increase ophthalmic examination rates among African Americans with diabetes.


METHODS
A randomized trial was conducted with 280 African Americans with diabetes, enrolled from outpatient departments of 5 medical centers in the New York City metropolitan area, who had not had a dilated retinal examination within 14 months of randomization (65.7% female, mean age = 54.7 years [SD = 12.8 years]).


RESULTS
After site differences were controlled, the odds ratio for receiving a retinal examination associated with the intervention was 4.3 (95% confidence interval = 2.4, 7.8). The examination rate pooled across sites was 54.7% in the intervention group and 27.3% in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The intervention was associated with a rate of ophthalmic examination double the rate achieved with routine medical care.
Basch
C E
CE
Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA. ceb35@columbia.edu
Walker
E A
EA
Howard
C J
CJ
Shamoon
H
H
Zybert
P
P
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation