Influence of primary care practices on patients' uptake of diabetic retinopathy screening: a qualitative case study

Lindenmeyer, A, Sturt, J A, Hipwell, A, Stratton, I M, al-Athamneh, N, Gadsby, R, O'Hare, J P and Scanlon, Peter H ORCID: 0000-0001-8513-710X (2014) Influence of primary care practices on patients' uptake of diabetic retinopathy screening: a qualitative case study. British Journal of General Practice, 64 (625). e484-e492. doi:10.3399/bjgp14X680965

[img]
Preview
Text (This article is Open Access: CC BY 3.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-nc/3.0/))
Influence of primary care practices.pdf - Published Version

Download (173kB) | Preview

Abstract

Background The NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme aims to reduce the risk of sight loss among people with diabetes in England by enabling prompt diagnosis of sight-threatening retinopathy. However, the rate of screening uptake between practices can vary from 55% to 95%. Existing research focuses on the impact of patient demographics but little is known about GP practice-related factors that can make a difference. Aim To identify factors contributing to high or low patient uptake of retinopathy screening. Design and setting Qualitative case-based study; nine purposively selected GP practices (deprived/affluent; high/low screening uptake) in three retinopathy screening programme areas. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients, primary care professionals, and screeners. A comparative case-based analysis was carried out to identify factors related to high or low screening uptake. Results Eight possible factors that influenced uptake were identified. Five modifiable factors related to service and staff interactions: communication with screening services; contacting patients; integration of screening with other care; focus on the newly diagnosed; and perception of non-attenders. Three factors were non-modifiable challenges related to practice location: level of deprivation; diversity of ethnicities and languages; and transport and access. All practices adopted strategies to improve uptake, but the presence of two or more major barriers made it very hard for practices to achieve higher uptake levels. Conclusions A range of service-level opportunities to improve screening attendance were identified that are available to practices and screening teams. More research is needed into the complex interfaces of care that make up retinopathy screening.

Item Type: Article
Article Type: Article
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: Denise Cain-Jones
Date Deposited: 12 Oct 2015 10:39
Last Modified: 31 Aug 2023 09:10
URI: https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/2692

University Staff: Request a correction | Repository Editors: Update this record

University Of Gloucestershire

Bookmark and Share

Find Us On Social Media:

Social Media Icons Facebook Twitter Google+ YouTube Pinterest Linkedin

Other University Web Sites

University of Gloucestershire, The Park, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 2RH. Telephone +44 (0)844 8010001.