A team of researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) recently completed a study that shows a need for better adherence by diabetic retinopathy patients in regards to recommended follow-up eye examinations.
According to researchers, African-Americans are at a higher risk for diabetic retinopathy and have one of the lowest rates of eye care use. Researchers examined data from diabetic patients screened from January 2012 through May 2015 in a clinic that serves a population that is mainly uninsured and African-American. They found only 29.9 percent of patients followed recommendations to have a follow-up eye examination within a specific time frame, even though cost and accessibility were minimized as barriers. Researchers also found two years after the initial screening, 50.9 percent of patients had still not undergone an eye exam.
Based on their findings, the researchers believe strategies for developing and implementing effective education at diabetic retinopathy screenings are needed, such as communicating the importance of follow-up eye care and how to avoid barriers to care.
The study was recently published in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Click here to read the full press release.
Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham