title: Assessment of benefit in tele-ophthalmology using a consensus panel.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Informatics and Multiprofessional Education, University College London, UK. p.taylor@chime.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Murdoch
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Rossi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Godoumov
mesh_terms: 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