[Scientific evaluation and quality assurance in refractive surgical interventions. Evaluation of the Datagraph med computer program].
BACKGROUND
During recent years refractive surgical procedures have been increasingly used to correct refractive errors. Exact saving and assessment of pre-, intra- and postoperative results for scientific evaluation are desired and are necessary for quality management. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the database program Datagraph med (version 2.5) which has been developed for data processing and assessment in refractive surgery.


METHODS
Pre-, intra- and postoperative data of 169 eyes treated with different refractive surgical methods (laser in situ keratomileusis, photorefractive keratectomy, laser thermal keratoplasty, phacic IOL) were collected, entered in the database and then evaluated by the above-mentioned program (with a follow-up of up to 12 months). The exactness of the Datagraph results was compared by means of manual recalculation.


RESULTS
Datagraph med was able to precisely process the patient data and save them in a database. Statistics and graphs presented by Datagraph were as data has been entered. Furthermore all standard graphs requested by the international consensus for evaluation of refractive surgical data (stability, predictability, efficacy, safety and complications) could be imaged.


CONCLUSIONS
Datagraph med is a helpful and precisely functioning program for processing and evaluation of refractive surgical data. It can be used for both scientific studies and for quality control. A continuous development and improvement of the program as well as the addition of statistical functions will be necessary due to the on-going progress in refractive surgery.
Mirshahi
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A
Augenklinik, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt.
Kohnen
T
T
D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011786:Quality Control; D012984:Software