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Garvican, L and Scanlon, Peter H 
ORCID: 0000-0001-8513-710X
(2004)
A pilot quality assurance scheme for diabetic retinopathy risk reduction programmes.
Diabetic Medicine, 21 (10).
pp. 1066-1074.
doi:10.1111/j.1464-5491.2004.01300.x
Abstract
Aims We describe a pilot study of measurement of quality assurance targets for diabetic retinopathy screening and performance comparison between 10 existing services, in preparation for the roll-out of the national programme. Background In 1999 the UK National Screening Committee approved proposals for a national diabetic retinopathy risk reduction programme, including recommendations for quality assurance, but implementation was held pending publication of the National Service Framework for Diabetes. Existing services requested the authors to perform a pilot study of a QA scheme, indicating willingness to contribute data for comparison. Methods Objectives and quality standards were developed, following consultation with diabetologists, ophthalmologists and retinal screeners. Services submitted 2001/2 performance data, in response to a questionnaire, for anonymization, central analysis and comparison. Results The 17 quality standards encompass all aspects of the programme from identification of patients to timeliness of treatment. Ten programmes took part, submitting all the data available. All returns were incomplete, but especially so from the optometry-based schemes. Eight or more services demonstrated they could reach the minimum level in only five of the 17 standards. Thirty per cent could not provide coverage data. All were running behind. Reasons for difficulties in obtaining data and/or failing to achieve standards included severe under-funding and little previous experience of QA. Information systems were limited and incompatible between diabetes and eye units, and there was a lack of co-ordinated management of the whole programme. Conclusion Quality assurance is time-consuming, expensive and inadequately resourced. The pilot study identified priorities for local action. National programme implementation must involve integral quality assurance mechanisms from the outset.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Article Type: | Article |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | diabetic retinopathy;evaluation studies;mass screening;pilot studies;quality assurance |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA645.A-Z Individual diseases or groups of diseases, A-Z > RA645.D54 Diabetes R Medicine > RE Ophthalmology |
| Divisions: | Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science |
| Research Priority Areas: | Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing |
| Depositing User: | Anne Pengelly |
| Date Deposited: | 01 Jun 2016 12:30 |
| Last Modified: | 31 Aug 2023 09:11 |
| URI: | https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/3576 |
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