Assessment of benefit in tele-ophthalmology using a consensus panel.
A videoconferencing link was established from a hospital in South Africa to Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. A clinician in South Africa used a video slit-lamp and videoconferencing equipment to capture images and communicate with a specialist in London. Over 12 months, 113 cases were discussed in teleconsultations. Case-notes were subsequently obtained for 90 cases (80%). Three consultant ophthalmologists took part in the consensus process, one from the UK and two from South Africa. The consensus panel achieved on average 78-96% agreement on the items rated. In approximately half the cases, the panel judged that teleconsultation had had an effect on diagnosis. In nine cases (10%) there was potential for definite improvement in visual health as a result of tele-ophthalmology and in a further 48 cases (53%) there was potential for possible improvement in visual health. The consensus process identified 35 cases (39%) where there was potential improvement in general health as a result of tele-ophthalmology. Despite the methodological limitations of our approach, it was possible to learn a great deal about the effectiveness of the telemedicine intervention.
Taylor
Paul
P
Centre for Health Informatics and Multiprofessional Education, University College London, UK. p.taylor@chime.ucl.ac.uk
Kennedy
Craig
C
Murdoch
Ian
I
Johnston
Kathy
K
Cook
Colin
C
Godoumov
Rossi
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003245:Consensus Statements as Topic; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013019:South Africa; D014741:Video Recording