Telemedicine screening for diabetic retinopathy: staff and patient satisfaction

In a pilot project, telemedicine was used to conduct retinal examinations of diabetic patients in the Alta municipality of Norway. All health-care workers who were involved in the project were interviewed. The ophthalmologists found that the grading of the level of retinopathy was quicker with digital images than with slit-lamp examinations. Fifty patients with type II diabetes were invited to attend a telemedicine check-up and 42 did so. Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire after the telemedicine examination and we received 32 replies (a 76% response rate), of which 12 were from men and 20 from women. The patients expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the telemedicine examination. The results of the evaluation also clearly showed that trust between health personnel was of major importance in engendering positive attitudes. Confidence is the basis of good collaboration between the various professions in the health-care sector, between health-care levels and between patients and treatment providers - in terms not only of individuals' confidence but also of routines, procedures and the system as a whole.