Training Program and Developmental Guidelines for Screening Patients at Risk for Diabetic Retinopathy at the Community Hospitals, Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: To screen the diabetic patients who are at risk for diabetic retinopathy and refer them to the ophthalmologists at the regional hospital for proper management. Materials and methods: 1) Local ophthalmologists provided the training course of diabetic retinopathy to the physicians and nurses in the community hospitals. 2) Physicians and nurses screened patients at risk for diabetic retinopathy and referred them to local ophthalmologists. 3) Local ophthalmologists examine the screened patients and report the outcomes to the community hospitals. Patients who developed diabetic retinopathy would be followed-up. Results: Fifteen community hospitals (62.5% of the hospitals in Nakhon Ratchasima province) were enrolled in this program and totals of 501 diabetic patients were screened. Three hundred and seventy-eight cases (75.5%) were examined by local ophthalmologists and revealed 34.9% and diabetic retinopathy and 2.4% proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Conclusions: Medical personnel at the community hospitals are able to screen patients at risk for diabetic retinopathy. The advantage of patients being examined by ophthalmologists at a proper time can help reduce eyesight disability. In the future, this screening system should be developed in the diabetic clinic as well.