Telepaediatrics and diabetic retinopathy screening of young people with diabetes in Queensland.
We have examined the feasibility of a telemedicine-enabled screening service for children and adolescents with diabetes in Queensland. There are approximately 1400 young people with diabetes in Queensland and only about two-thirds of them are screened in accordance with international guidelines. A regional retinal screening service was established using a nonmydriatic digital retinal camera. Seven centres volunteered to participate in the study. During a five-month pilot trial, 83 of the young people with diabetes who attend these centres underwent digital retinal screening (3.7%). Retinal images were sent via email to a paediatric ophthalmologist for review and results were returned via email. A copy of each participant's results was forwarded by mail to the referring diabetes doctor and the participant and family. The majority of the image files (96%) were rated as excellent or good. Only one participant was identified as having an abnormal result. Participants and their families expressed satisfaction with the digital retinal screening process.
Stillman
J K
JK
Centre for Online Health, University of Queensland, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston, Australia. jstillman@ccs.uq.edu.au
Gole
G A
GA
Wootton
R
R
Woolfield
N
N
Price
D
D
Van der Westhuyzen
J
J
Williams
M
M
Williams
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011793:Queensland; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration*