Can Australian general practitioners effectively screen for diabetic retinopathy? A pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Diabetes has been identified as one of the national health priority areas in Australia. After 20 years of diabetes most patients can be expected to develop diabetic retinopathy which, if undetected, is likely to cause significant visual loss or blindness. This paper reports on a pilot study aimed to test the ability of Australian GPs to clinically recognise diabetic retinopathy following a brief training intervention.


METHODS
17 GPs from a Brisbane Division of General Practice were recruited to participate in a clinical upskilling intervention pilot. Participant scores on clinical assessments were used to analyse GP sensitivity and specificity in screening for diabetic retinopathy. Results were compared with the NHMRC guidelines for acceptable screening accuracy.


RESULTS
Ten of the 17 GPs (59%) achieved a screening sensitivity of 25% or less in the pre test, three (18%) a sensitivity of 50%, and four (23%) achieved a sensitivity of >or= 75%. In the post-test, all seventeen GPs achieved between 50 and 100% sensitivity. In the pre-test, thirteen (76%) GPs achieved a screening specificity of less than or equal to 50%, and four (23%) a specificity of 75 %. In the post test, four GPs (23%) rated a screening specificity of less than 50%, six (35%) achieved a specificity of 66%, and seven (41%) 100% specificity.


CONCLUSIONS
24% of GPs met the NHMRC diabetic retinopathy screening criterion prior to the workshop, and 94% following this brief training intervention. Australian GPs are capable of a much more significant role in community screening for diabetic retinopathy.
Jackson
Claire L
CL
Mater University of Queensland Centre for General Practice and Primary Health Care Integration, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia. c.jackson@mailbox.ug.edu.au
Hirst
Laurence
L
de Jong
Inge C
IC
Smith
Nadine
N
D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity