Effectiveness of a mobile diabetic retinopathy screening campaign to encourage diabetics to undergo regular ophthalmic follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening campaign with a non-mydriatic camera to encourage diabetics to undergo a subsequent ophthalmic follow-up.


METHODS
Diabetic patients who underwent free DR screening with a non-mydriatic fundus camera were given the recommendation to have an ophthalmic visit, in a time frame suited to the DR stage or in case abnormalities in the macula, the optic nerve or intra-ocular pressure were detected. The photographs were performed by a trained orthoptist. The date of the visit to their ophthalmologist and the report of this consultation were recorded.


RESULTS
During 5 annual campaigns, 4,699 diabetics were screened. Of the 1,573 ophthalmic examinations recommended at the screening, 1,241 (79%) were actually conducted. A total of 623 new cases of DR were found in the course of this screening campaign, with a fair concordance between the diagnosis suggested at screening and the examination by the ophthalmologist (κ = 0.48).


CONCLUSIONS
Information and recommendations given during DR screening helped to reintroduce patients to a regular ophthalmic follow-up, at least in the short term.
Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Dijon, France.
Catherine
C
Creuzot-Garcher
Till
T
Martin-Phipps
Julien
J
Beynat
Karine
K
Astruc
Karima
K
Brassac
Alain M
AM
Bron
D000368:Aged; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008952:Mobile Health Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010781:Photography; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies