Screening for diabetic retinopathy in remote Australia: a program description and evaluation of a devolved model.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the diabetic retinopathy screening program operating in the Kimberley and evaluate recruitment into and the quality and timeliness of, the screening procedure.


METHODS
Review of the documents relating to the Kimberley diabetic retinopathy screening program and analysis of Kimberley diabetic retinopathy screening database.


RESULTS
The Kimberley Public Health Unit developed and maintains a program of training, credentialing and ongoing professional development for retinal camera practitioners and a Kimberley-wide database of retinal photographs taken for diabetic retinopathy screening. As a result of this program, diabetic retinopathy screening is available in or close to most diabetics' home towns/communities and 58% had undergone retinopathy screening in the preceding 2 years. Over 90% of sets of photographs were of excellent or adequate quality. There was a positive relationship between credentialing and photograph quality and timeliness of photographs being sent away for reporting.


CONCLUSIONS
Quality diabetic retinopathy screening, at prevalences comparable to, or higher than, other urban and rural populations, can be achieved in a remote area.
Mak
Donna B
DB
Kimberley Public Health Unit, Derby, Western Australia, Australia. donna.mak@health.wa.gov.au
Plant
Aileen J
AJ
McAllister
Ian
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D003663:Decision Trees; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D010781:Photography; D015995:Prevalence; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015351:Vision Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology