title: Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Using Telemedicine Tools: Pilot Study in Hungary.
abstract: Introduction.Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a sight-threatening complication of diabetes. Telemedicine tools can prevent blindness. We aimed to investigate the patients' satisfaction when using such tools (fundus camera examination) and the effect of demographic and socioeconomic factors on participation in screening.Methods.Pilot study involving fundus camera screening and self-administered questionnaire on participants' experience during fundus examination (comfort, reliability, and future interest in participation), as well as demographic and socioeconomic factors was performed on 89 patients with known diabetes in Csongrád County, a southeastern region of Hungary.Results.Thirty percent of the patients had never participated in any ophthalmological screening, while 25.7% had DR of some grade based upon a standard fundus camera examination and UK-based DR grading protocol (Spectra™ software). Large majority of the patients were satisfied with the screening and found it reliable and acceptable to undertake examination under pupil dilation; 67.3% were willing to undergo nonmydriatic fundus camera examination again. There was a statistically significant relationship between economic activity, education and marital status, and future interest in participation.Discussion.Participants found digital retinal screening to be reliable and satisfactory. Telemedicine can be a strong tool, supporting eye care professionals and allowing for faster and more comfortable DR screening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Dóra J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Eszes
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Dóra J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.affiliation: Health Intelligence, Clinical Development, Chesire, UK.
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: Health Intelligence, Clinical Development, Chesire, UK.
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Edit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paulik
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nagymajtényi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0644-9514
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Facskó
authors.affiliation: Centre of Eye Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Morten C
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0615-804X
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Moe
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary; Health Services Research Centre, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Campus Ahus, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Beáta É
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4550-6203
authors.initials: BÉ
authors.lastname: Petrovski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012923:Social Class; D012984:Software; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*