Speed of telemedicine vs ophthalmoscopy for retinopathy of prematurity diagnosis.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the speed of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) diagnosis using standard indirect ophthalmoscopy with that of telemedicine.


METHODS
Prospective, comparative study.


METHODS
Three study examiners (2 pediatric retinal specialists [R.V.P.C., T.C.L.] and 1 pediatric ophthalmologist [M.F.C.]) conducted ROP diagnosis via standard indirect ophthalmoscopy and telemedicine. Each examiner performed: 1) standard ophthalmoscopy on 72 to 150 consecutive infants at his respective institution and 2) telemedical diagnosis on 125 consecutive deidentified retinal image sets from infants from an at-risk population. Time for ophthalmoscopic diagnosis was measured in 2 ways: 1) time spent by the examiner at the infant's bedside and 2) mean total time commitment per infant. Time for telemedicine diagnosis was recorded by computer time stamps in the web-based system. For each examiner, nonparametric statistical analysis (Mann-Whitney U test) was used to compare the distribution of times for examination by ophthalmoscopy vs telemedicine.


RESULTS
Mean (+/- standard deviation [SD]) times for ophthalmoscopic diagnosis ranged from 4.17 (+/- 1.34) minutes to 6.63 (+/- 2.28) minutes per infant. Mean (+/- SD) times for telemedicine diagnosis ranged from 1.02 (+/- 0.27) minutes to 1.75 (+/- 0.80) minutes per infant. Telemedicine was significantly faster than ophthalmoscopy (P < .0001). The total time commitment by ophthalmologists performing bedside ophthalmoscopy for ROP diagnosis, including travel and communication with families and hospital staff, was 10.08 (+/- 2.53) minutes to 14.42 (+/- 2.64) minutes per infant.


CONCLUSIONS
The ophthalmologist time requirement for telemedical ROP diagnosis is significantly less than that for ophthalmoscopic diagnosis. Additional time requirements associated with bedside ROP diagnosis increased this disparity. Telemedicine has potential to alleviate the time commitment for ophthalmologists who manage ROP.
Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA.
Grace M
GM
Richter
Grace
G
Sun
Thomas C
TC
Lee
R V Paul
RV
Chan
John T
JT
Flynn
Justin
J
Starren
Michael F
MF
Chiang
D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000458:organization & administration; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors