June 2021
Volume 62, Issue 8
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2021
Barriers and Enablers of attendance at Northern Ireland Diabetic Eye Screening: A Qualitative Perspective from Young People aged 12-26
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Laura Nicole Cushley
    Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
  • Aaron Bell
    London North West Healthcare NHS Trust, Harrow, London, United Kingdom
  • Katie Curran
    Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
  • Giuliana Silvestri
    Department of Ophthalmology, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, United Kingdom
  • Una Graham
    Department of Endocrinology, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
  • David McCance
    Department of Endocrinology, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
  • Tunde Peto
    Department of Ophthalmology, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, United Kingdom
    Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Laura Cushley, None; Aaron Bell, None; Katie Curran, None; Giuliana Silvestri, None; Una Graham, None; David McCance, None; Tunde Peto, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  DfE PhD studentship
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2021, Vol.62, 1076. doi:
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      Laura Nicole Cushley, Aaron Bell, Katie Curran, Giuliana Silvestri, Una Graham, David McCance, Tunde Peto; Barriers and Enablers of attendance at Northern Ireland Diabetic Eye Screening: A Qualitative Perspective from Young People aged 12-26. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2021;62(8):1076.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose : To determine the barriers and enablers of attendance at the Northern Ireland Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (NIDESP) in young people aged 12-26 years using qualitative questionnaires.

Methods : A qualitative questionnaire was distributed to young people with diabetes mellitus (YPwDM) through Diabetes clinics in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT) enquiring about barriers and enablers faced for NIDESP attendance. Additionally, YPwDM were asked about their level of knowledge as to how Diabetes Melitus (DM) might affect their eyes.

Results : The survey was completed by 25 YPwDM; 52% were male and 44% were female, one individual did not state their gender. Respondents were aged between 12 and 26 years of age, 56% were between 16-20 years. Age at diagnosis was most commonly between the ages of 8-11 years old (40%) followed by 12-15 years of age (28%). Those diagnosed between the ages of 1-3, 4-7 and 16-20 were 8%, 4% and 16% respectively, 4% did not respond. Saturation of themes was achieved by this number of responses.

Nearly all (92%) YPwDM were aware that diabetes can affect the eyes, despite this, 84% asked to receive more education on this subject. The main source of information on diabetic eye disease at present is the endocrinologist in charge of the diabetes clinic (in 72% of cases). NIDESP was known to nearly all YPwDM (88%), however 20% were unaware that attendance both at NIDESP and their high street opticians was advisable. The identified main barriers were the timing of the appointments, clash of multiple appointments and missing out on school/work being the main problems. In fact, 76% stated that they would be more likely to attend if diabetic eye screening was completed during their normal diabetes clinic appointment. One respondent strongly suggested that more encouragement from the diabetes team would be required to increase their want to attend NIDESP.

Conclusions : The study concluded that it is not necessarily the lack of knowledge that stops YPwDM attending NIDESP. Relatively modest changes in how information on diabetic eye disease is provided, and by whom; rearranging time of the eye-screening clinics and providing more detailed information could potentially have a major impact on attendance.

This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.

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