Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
JAMA Ophthalmology:
Patients’ Adherence To Recommended Follow-Up Eye Care After Diabetic Retinopathy Screening In A Publicly Funded County Clinic And Factors Associated With Follow-Up Eye Care Use
The public health success of diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening programs depends on patients’ adherence to the timetable of follow-up eye care recommended by the screening program. African Americans are among those at highest risk for DR and have one of the lowest rates of eye care use. … After a DR screening program in a public clinic largely serving an African American population, only one-third of participants adhered to interval recommendations for follow-up eye appointments, even though cost and accessibility were minimized as barriers to care. Our findings suggest that DR screening programs are not likely to meet their public health goals without incorporation of eye health education initiatives successfully …
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