Organisation of services for diabetic retinopathy screening: HTA Advice 1: Organisation of services for diabetic retinopathy screening: Understanding HTBS Advice: Diabetic retinopathy screening in Scotland

NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
Record ID 32003000094
English
Authors' objectives:

To determine the most effective and efficient approach to achieving, implementing and sustaining a quality assured screening programme for diabetic retinopathy in Scotland that takes account of patient requirements.

Authors' results and conclusions: Digital retinal photography has been shown to achieve high sensitivity and specificity for sight-threatening disease. Indirect opthalmoscopy has also proven to be sensitive and specific enough to be viable as a model for a national screening programme. Mydriasis may be required in some cases prior to screening. Patients should be informed about the screening process.
Authors' recommendations: A national systematic diabetic retinopathy screening programme for Scotland should be established to detect referable retinopathy. The screening programme should: - Utilise a three-stage process based on non-mydriatic digital cameras, with the use of mydriasis and slit lamps, where necessary. - Be performed by appropriately trained, accredited, and competent professionals. - Enhance existing schemes to achieve the approved quality-assured specifications. - Ensure screening is accessible to all diabetic patients, whether they receive community and/or hospital based diabetic care. Local implementation may include services in diabetes centres, primary health care facilities, mobile vans or community optometrists. - Be evaluated as the screening programme is implemented and reviewed in the light of further research to enable optimal service provision.
Authors' methods: Systematic review
Details
Project Status: Completed
Year Published: 2002
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Scotland, United Kingdom
MeSH Terms
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Diabetic Retinopathy
  • Vision Screening
Contact
Organisation Name: Health Technology Board for Scotland
Contact Address: Delta House, 50 West Nile Street Glasgow G1 2NP Scotland United Kingdom Tel: +44 141 225 6988; Fax: +44 141 221 3262
Contact Name: shtg.hcis@nhs.net
Contact Email: shtg.hcis@nhs.net
Copyright: Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) (merged into NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS))
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.