Diabetic retinopathy: Screening and management by Australian GPs

Ting, D.; Ng, Jonathon; Morlet, Nigel; Yuen, J.; Clark, A.; Taylor, H.; Keefe, J.; Preen, D.

Access Status

Fulltext not available

Authors

Ting, D.

Ng, Jonathon

Morlet, Nigel

Yuen, J.

Clark, A.

Taylor, H.

Keefe, J.

Preen, D.

Date

2011

Type

Journal Article

Metadata

Show full item record

Citation

Ting, D. and Ng, J. and Morlet, N. and Yuen, J. and Clark, A. and Taylor, H. and Keefe, J. et al. 2011. Diabetic retinopathy: Screening and management by Australian GPs. Australian Family Physician. 40 (4): pp. 233-238.

Source Title

Australian Family Physician

Additional URLs

http://www.racgp.org.au/download/documents/AFP/2011/April/201104ting.pdf

ISSN

0300-8495

School

Centre for Population Health Research

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32116

Collection

Curtin Research Publications

Abstract

Aim: To describe current diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening and management practices among Australian general practitioners. Method: A self administered questionnaire on DR management was mailed to 2000 rural and urban GPs across Australia in 2007-2008. Results: Only 29% of the GP respondents had read the National Health and Research Council guidelines at least once and 41% had a 'moderate' to 'strong' desire to screen for DR. A majority of GPs (74%) reported not routinely examining their diabetic patients for DR. Lack of confidence in detecting DR changes (86.4%) and time constraints (73.4%) were the two major barriers to GPs performing dilated fundoscopy on diabetic patients. Discussion: Given that access to optometry is not evenly distributed across the country, and that ophthalmology is underresourced, GPs are the healthcare providers most able to manage and screen for DR in the community.