title: A delphi study to detect deficiencies and propose actions in real life treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: Purpose. Spanish retina specialists were surveyed in order to propose actions to decrease deficiencies in real-life neovascular age macular degeneration treatment (nv-AMD). Methods. One hundred experts, members of the Spanish Vitreoretinal Society (SERV), were invited to complete an online survey of 52 statements about nv-AMD management with a modified Delphi methodology. Four rounds were performed using a 5-point Linkert scale. Recommendations were developed after analyzing the differences between the results and the SERV guidelines recommendations. Results. Eighty-seven specialists completed all the Delphi rounds. Once major potential deficiencies in real-life nv-AMD treatment were identified, 15 recommendations were developed with a high level of agreement. Consensus statements to reduce the burden of the disease included the use of treat and extend regimen and to reduce the amount of diagnostic tests during the loading phase and training technical staff to perform these tests and reduce the time between relapse detection and reinjection, as well as establishing patient referral protocols to outside general ophthalmology clinics. Conclusion. The level of agreement with the final recommendations for nv-AMD treatment among Spanish retinal specialist was high indicating that some actions could be applied in order to reduce the deficiencies in real-life nv-AMD treatment.
authors.affiliation: Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Avenida de Pío XII 36, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Layana
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Bellvitge, C/Feixa Llargasn, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal, Carretera de Colmenar km 9, 28034 Madrid, Spain ; Vissum Madrid, Santa Hortensia 58, 28002 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.affiliation: Hospital de San Eloy, Avenida Antonio Miranda 5, 48902 Baracaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Araiz
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario de Albacete, Avenida de Almansa, s/n, 02006 Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Moreno
authors.affiliation: Hospital VallD'Hebron, Passeig de la Valld'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Arumí
authors.affiliation: Instituto Oftalmológico Gómez-Ulla, Calle Maruja Mallo 3, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gómez-Ulla
authors.affiliation: IOBA, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Paseo de Belén 17, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: María Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: López-Gálvez
authors.affiliation: Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno Infantil de Gran Canaria, Avenida Marítima del Sur, s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cabrera-López
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Campus de Teatinos, s/n, 29010 Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: García-Campos
authors.affiliation: Institut de la Macula i de la Retina, Carrer de Vilana 12, 08022 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monés
authors.affiliation: Hospital General de Valencia, Avenida Tres Cruces 2, 46014 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cervera
authors.affiliation: Hospital la Paz, Paseo de la Castellana 261, 28046 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Armadá
authors.affiliation: Hospital la Fe, Valencia, Avenida de Fernando Abril Martorell 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8194-2806
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gallego-Pinazo
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario de Valme, Avenida de Bellavista, s/n, 41014 Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piñero-Bustamante
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, Carretera del Rosario 145, 38010 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Serrano-Garcia