Τίτλος:
Overcoming barriers of retinal care delivery during a pandemic-attitudes and drivers for the implementation of digital health: A global expert survey
Γλώσσες Τεκμηρίου:
Αγγλικά
Περίληψη:
Background/Aims The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has imposed barriers to retinal care delivery worldwide. In this context, retinal services are exploring novel ways to ensure access to healthcare. Methods We conducted a worldwide survey among retinal specialists between March 31, 2020 and April 12, 2020. The expert survey was developed on the basis of focus group discussions involving retinal specialists and literature searches. It included 44 questions on alternative ways of care provision including digital health domains such as teleophthalmology, home monitoring or decentralised patient care. Results 214 retinal experts participated in the survey, of which 120 (56.1%) had more than 15 years of experience in ophthalmology. Most participants were clinicians (n=158, 73.9%) practising in Western Europe (n=159, 74%). In the majority of institutions, teleophthalmology, home monitoring and decentralised patient care have not been implemented before the pandemic (n=46, 21.8.1%; n=64, 29.9%; n=38, 19.1%). During the pandemic, the use of teleophthalmology and home monitoring increased significantly (n=105, p<0.001; n=90, p<0.001). In the subgroup of institutions reporting no teleophthalmology service before and implementing a service during the pandemic (34/70, 48.6%), reimbursement was the sole significant parameter (OR 9.62 (95% CI 2.42 to 38.16); p<0.001). Conclusion Digital health is taking the centre stage tackling unpreceded challenges of retinal care delivery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and may sustainably change the way we practice ophthalmology. © 2021 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
Συγγραφείς:
Faes, L.
Rosenblatt, A.
Schwartz, R.
Touhami, S.
Ventura, C.V.
Chatziralli, I.P.
Ruiz-Medrano, J.
Vogt, D.
Savastano, A.
Ruiz-Garcia, H.
Pohlmann, D.
Loewenstein, A.
Περιοδικό:
British Journal of Ophthalmology
Εκδότης:
BMJ Publishing Group
Λέξεις-κλειδιά:
adult; aged; Article; attitude to health; clinical practice; coronavirus disease 2019; eye care; female; home monitoring; human; male; ophthalmologist; pandemic; patient care; reimbursement; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; telemedicine; teleophthalmology; Western Europe; attitude; health care delivery; ophthalmology; pandemic; procedures; telemedicine, Attitude; COVID-19; Delivery of Health Care; Humans; Ophthalmology; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; Telemedicine
DOI:
10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-316882
