DETECT: DEveloping and testing a model to identify preventive vision loss among older paTients in gEneral praCTice -...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Primary Care Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Increasing prevalence of visual impairment significantly impacts quality of life and self-care abilities.
• Timely detection and treatment are critical for managing age-related eye diseases and reducing the burden of visual impairment.
• General practice plays a vital role in preventive healthcare, diagnostics, and chronic condition management, with potential for enhanced involvement in detecting visual impairment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a primary care intervention focused on identifying and coordinating care for patients with low vision.
• To explore the potential and limitations of general practice in detecting preventable vision loss.
• To engage patients, relatives, and health professionals in the intervention development process.

Main Methods:

• Application of the Medical Research Council framework for complex interventions.
• Participatory approach using qualitative and creative methods, including graphical facilitation.
• Pilot testing of the intervention's feasibility in a general practice setting.

Main Results:

• Development of a primary care intervention model with the General Practitioner (GP) as a central figure.
• Exploration of the role and challenges of primary care in identifying visual impairment.
• Feasibility assessment of the intervention in a real-world general practice environment.

Conclusions:

• General practice offers a valuable setting for the early detection and management of visual impairment.
• A participatory approach is effective in developing patient-centered healthcare interventions.
• Further integration of primary care services can improve outcomes for individuals with or at risk of vision loss.