Accuracy of Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy by Family Physicians

Overview

Journal Ann Fam Med

Specialty Public Health

Date 2004 Jun 24

PMID 15209197

Citations 12

Authors

James M Gill

David M Cole

Harry M Lebowitz

James J Diamond

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: We wanted to examine the accuracy of family physicians' screening for diabetic retinopathy using standardized criteria and a nonmydriatic ophthalmoscope.

Methods: Eleven family physicians assessed 28 standardized patients with diabetes mellitus using the PanOptic ophthalmoscope. Their assessments of whether the patients required referral to an ophthalmologist were compared with the reference standard of retinal diagrams.

Results: The mean sensitivity for the family physicians was 87% (95% confidence interval [CI], 83%-91%) with a specificity of 57% (95% CI, 46%-68%). Overall agreement was moderate, with a mean kappa = .43 (95% CI, 0.39%-0.47%).

Conclusions: Using standardized criteria and a nonmydriatic ophthalmoscope, family physicians were fairly accurate in screening patients for diabetic retinopathy. Whereas this technique is not sufficiently accurate to replace routine referral for all patients with diabetes, it can be used to improve care for those patients who fail to get routine eye screenings.

Citing Articles

Family Physicians' Knowledge and Perceived Confidence with Clinical Ophthalmology.

Othman S, Alasmari A, Showail M Adv Med Educ Pract. 2024; 15:1175-1183.

PMID: 39624507 PMC: 11611518. DOI: 10.2147/AMEP.S467139.

Practice Patterns of Fundoscopic Examination for Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Primary Care.

Song A, Lusk J, Roh K, Jackson K, Scherr K, McNabb R JAMA Netw Open. 2022; 5(6):e2218753.

PMID: 35759262 PMC: 9237789. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.18753.

Agreement on Grading Retinal Findings of Patients with Diabetes Using Fundus Photographs by Allied Medical Personnel when Compared to an Ophthalmologist at a Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Program in Nepal.

Thapa R, Bajimaya S, Pradhan E, Sharma S, Kshetri B, Paudyal G Clin Ophthalmol. 2020; 14:2731-2737.

PMID: 33061255 PMC: 7518769. DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S269002.

Team-based care improves quality of diabetes care -Family Practice Integrated Care Project in Taiwan.

Chang J, Hwang S, Chen T, Chiu T, Yang H, Chen Y BMC Fam Pract. 2020; 21(1):209.

PMID: 33059587 PMC: 7561235. DOI: 10.1186/s12875-020-01284-w.

Characterization of the retinal vasculature in fundus photos using the PanOptic iExaminer system.

Hu H, Wei H, Xiao M, Jiang L, Wang H, Jiang H Eye Vis (Lond). 2020; 7:46.

PMID: 32944589 PMC: 7487633. DOI: 10.1186/s40662-020-00211-5.

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