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Overcoming barriers of retinal care delivery during a pandemic-attitudes and drivers for the implementation of digital health: a global expert survey.
Faes, Livia; Rosenblatt, Amir; Schwartz, Roy; Touhami, Sara; Ventura, Camila V; Chatziralli, Irini P; Ruiz-Medrano, Jorge; Vogt, Denise; Savastano, Alfonso; Ruiz-Garcia, Humberto; Pohlmann, Dominika; Loewenstein, Anat.
  • Faes L; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
  • Rosenblatt A; Eye Clinic of the Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland.
  • Schwartz R; Division of Ophthalmology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
  • Touhami S; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
  • Ventura CV; Department of Ophthalmology, Pitié Salpètriére University Hospital, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
  • Chatziralli IP; Department of Ophthalmology, Altino Ventura Foundation, Recife, Brazil.
  • Ruiz-Medrano J; Department of Ophthalmology, HOPE Eye Hospital, Recife, Brazil.
  • Vogt D; 2nd Department of Ophthalmology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
  • Savastano A; Department of Ophthalmology, Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
  • Ruiz-Garcia H; Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany.
  • Pohlmann D; Department of Ophthalmology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
  • Loewenstein A; Clinica Oftalmológica Santa Lucía, Guadalajara, Mexico.
Br J Ophthalmol ; 105(12): 1738-1743, 2021 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-873487
ABSTRACT
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.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Ophthalmology / Telemedicine / Delivery of Health Care / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Br J Ophthalmol Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bjophthalmol-2020-316882

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Ophthalmology / Telemedicine / Delivery of Health Care / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Br J Ophthalmol Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bjophthalmol-2020-316882