[Study of health in Pomerania (SHIP-Trend): : Important aspects for healthcare research in ophthalmology].
BACKGROUND
Epidemiological studies continue to receive growing attention in health services research.


OBJECTIVE
How can ophthalmological health services research benefit from the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP)?


METHODS
The SHIP is a population-based, epidemiological project conducted in the northeast of Germany. In 1997 a random sample of 6,265 eligible subjects was enrolled for the first SHIP cohort. Between 1997 and 2001 baseline examinations were performed, followed by 5-year follow-up from 2002 to 2006, from 2008 to 2012 and from 2014. A second independent sample of 8,016 eligible subjects was enrolled in 2008. Baseline examinations of this new cohort (SHIP-Trend) were conducted between 2008 and 2012 and the first follow-up is scheduled for 2015. Included in SHIP are a large variety of different assessments including eye examinations. All participants are subjected to non-mydriatic funduscopy and static vessel analysis (SVA).


RESULTS
A total number of 4,420 subjects participated in the interdisciplinary baseline examinations of SHIP-Trend. Standardized fundus photography was performed with a non-mydriatic camera in 3,934 subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Estimations of the prevalence of major eye diseases may provide valid indicators for healthcare provision within healthcare research. New concepts of prevention with a strengthened integration of ophthalmological diagnostics can be identified from the widespread spectrum of different healthcare examinations. Regional differences in the efficiency of healthcare provision can be evaluated with comparative studies between different German populations.
Institut für Community Medicine, Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP), Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Walter Rathenau Str. 48, 17475, Greifswald, Deutschland, juergens@uni-greifswald.de.
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult