title: Discharge outcomes of patients referred to specialist eye clinic from diabetic retinopathy screening in Northland (2014-15).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the discharge outcomes of patients seen in specialist eye clinic after referral from diabetic retinopathy screening (DRS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of outcomes of a sample of 98 patients referred from DRS to specialist eye clinic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A sample of 98 patients were analysed following referral by DRS to specialist eye clinic from 16/4/14 to 16/4/15. Age at screening ranged from 13-88 years, with the main ethnic groups being Māori (57.1%), European (39.79%) and Indian (3.06%). A majority of the patients were referred to specialist eye clinic for diabetic retinopathy (60%) or cataracts (35%). After being seen in specialist eye clinic, 45% of the patients were enrolled back into DRS and 49.1% stayed under care of ophthalmology service for further treatment, and a further 5.9% were discharged to care of GP or optometrist without re-enrolment back to DRS. Of those referred back to DRS, 30% were re-enrolled after further imaging with optical coherence tomography (OCT), and 24% of patients were referred back to DRS due to non-attendance. Non-attendence at clinic appointments was high among the Māori population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study identified that 94% of patients referred to specialist eye clinic were either referred back to DRS or kept under care with only five patients not re-enrolled back into DRS. Despite good service delivery, Northland remains a high-risk population for diabetes, where non-attendance at clinic appointments remained an issue with the Māori patient population. In addition, a significant proportion of patients were re-referred back to DRS after OCT, and a consideration is to include OCT in the screening pathway.
authors.affiliation: Whangarei Hospital, Whangarei.
authors.forename: Pragnya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jagadish
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Whangarei Hospital, Whangarei.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dalziel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015351:Vision Screening; D055815:Young Adult