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Cluster randomised controlled trial evaluation of a Link Worker–delivered intervention to improve uptake of diabetic retinopathy screening in a South Asian population

2014; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 11; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1177/1479164114532964

1752-8984

Kate Bush, Ruth Thomas, Neil T. Raymond, Sailesh Sankar, Peter Barker, Joseph Paul O’Hare,

Blood Pressure and Hypertension Studies

Attendance at diabetic retinopathy screening in minority ethnic groups, including the South Asian population, is known to be poor. We describe a cluster randomised controlled trial conducted in 10 general practitioner (GP) surgeries in Coventry, UK, during 2007 which aimed to evaluate the use of a Link Worker–delivered intervention to improve attendance. The intervention consisted of a simple telephone reminder with the main outcome measure being attendance at diabetic retinopathy screening. We found a statistically significant difference between mean attendance proportions for intervention (0.89) and control (0.74) practices: difference (95% confidence interval (CI)) 0.15 (0.04–0.27), t = 3.03, p = 0.0162; this difference remained significant when adjusted for previous year’s proportions. In this proof-of-concept study, in inner city Coventry, we demonstrated increased attendance at diabetic retinopathy screening by use of a simple Link Worker–implemented telephone call intervention. The use of Link Worker phone calls may be a useful tool to increase attendance for diabetic retinopathy screening in a group with high did-not-attend (DNA) rates and a high prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and visual impairment.