Impact of a National system for waitlist prioritization: The experience with NIKE and cataract surgery in Sweden
Access Status
Authors
Date
2014Type
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Source Title
ISSN
School
Collection
Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate waiting times for first-eye cataract surgery in Sweden following widespread adoption of the Nationell Indikationsmodell for Kataraktextraktion (NIKE) tool for prioritizing patients for cataract surgery. Methods: Waiting times for all first-eye cataract surgeries in Sweden in 2009-2011 were identified from the Swedish National Cataract Register. Waiting times were compared according to demographic, clinical and NIKE indication group for surgery. Multivariate logistic regression modelling was used to determine factors associated with waiting times less than the 3-month Government guarantee period. Results: There were 141 070 first-eye cataract surgeries in 2009 to 2011; an annual increase of around 6%. Over the study period, mean waiting times decreased across all NIKE groups. The proportion waiting <3 months for surgery also increased across all NIKE groups. Surgery within 3 months of waitlisting was more likely for patients with a NIKE 1 indication classification (most need for surgery), in later years, male patients, younger patients and patients with a preoperative visual acuity in the better eye worse than 6/24. Conclusions: Prioritizing patients for cataract surgery using NIKE reduces waiting times for those with the greatest need. © 2013 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Fraser, Michelle Louise (2011)The demand for cataract surgery is set to increase due to the ageing population of Australia. Cataracts are usually bilateral, but cataract surgery is almost always performed one eye at a time. Previous investigations of ...
-
Agramunt, S.; Meuleners, Lynn; Fraser, M.; Chow, Kyle; Ng, Jonathon; Raja, V. (2018)Background: Driving a car is the most common form of transport among the older population. Common medical conditions such as cataract, increase with age and impact on the ability to drive. To compensate for visual decline, ...
-
Palagyi, A.; McCluskey, P.; White, A.; Rogers, K.; Meuleners, Lynn; Ng, J.; Morlet, N.; Keay, L. (2016)Purpose: Strong evidence indicates an increased fall risk associated with cataract. Although cataract surgery can restore sight, lengthy wait times are common for public patients in many high-income countries. This study ...