Abstract
Purpose :
Patient navigators are individuals who help overcome known barriers to the utilization of various healthcare services. While patient navigator support is utilized in several areas of medicine, it has yet to be readily availble for patients receiving retinal care. This study aimed to identify major barriers to retinal care, identify community resources and to evaluate the feasibility of implementing patient navigator support.
Methods :
A mixed-methods research combining qualitative and quantitative approaches was conducted. The qualitative approach involved interviewing a convenience sample of patients who volunteered to share their experiences navigating the healthcare system. The quantitative approach involved administering a screening questionnaire designed to identify patients with major barriers when seeking retinal care and enrolling them for patient navigator intervention. Participants were not restricted to those with visual impairment. The effectiveness of patient navigator support was assessed by comparing the results of VFQ-25, IVI profile, and mental health surveys, including PHQ-9 and GAD-7, prior to and following the intervention.
Results :
In a solo physician community retina practice, a total of 100 consecutive patients were subsequently administered a questionnaire based on the pre-identified themes. Ten patients expressed difficulty contacting their primary care provider, 14 expressed difficulties with arranging affordable transportation to the clinic, 40 were diabetic with desire to improve glycemic control, 9 of whom endorsed difficulty managing their condition independently and 10 expressed difficulty understanding medical information relevant to their eye condition. Most significantly, 37 reported that their retinal disease is a major source of anxiety. A total of 49 patients demonstrated interest in partaking in the patient navigator program and completing an in-depth follow-up survey designed to assess feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed intervention.
Conclusions :
Common themes emerged from patient interviews, representing the unmet needs of a population seeking retinal care in the community. Implementation of patient navigator support is likely to improve vision-related quality of life of these patients.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.