TY - JOUR
T1 - Barriers to follow-up retinal care during the COVID-19 pandemic
T2 - A survey study
AU - Shields, Charlotte N.
AU - Cherkas, Elliot G.
AU - Mokhashi, Nikita
AU - Cai, Louis Z.
AU - Pandit, Ravi R.
AU - Patel, Samir N.
AU - Hsu, Jason
AU - Kuriyan, Ajay E.
AU - Klufas, Michael A.
AU - Ho, Allen C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Slack Incorporated. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To characterize patient-identified barriers to care in those non-compliant with retina appointments during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Inclusion criteria included non-compliant patients from March 1, 2020 to May 1, 2020. Ultimately, 1,345 patients were invited to complete a 14-question survey. A retrospective chart review correlated clinical and demographic information. Univariate logistic regression, independent-samples t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient identified differences among subgroups. RESULTS: Of the 1,345 patients, 181 (13.5%) completed the survey. The most significant barriers to care included fear of COVID (76/181; 42.0%), wait times (21/181; 11.6%), and costs (11/181; 6.1%). Patients who got their COVID information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (7.8 ± 2.4) and televised news (8.0 ± 2.0) had higher levels of fear. Finally, patients with diabetic retinopathy and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores had greater concerns of COVID (P = .034 and P = .047, respectively). CONCLUSION: This survey study suggests fear of COVID-19 is a prominent new barrier to retinal care. Identifying those at risk for loss to follow-up can guide practices as the pandemic continues.
AB - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To characterize patient-identified barriers to care in those non-compliant with retina appointments during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Inclusion criteria included non-compliant patients from March 1, 2020 to May 1, 2020. Ultimately, 1,345 patients were invited to complete a 14-question survey. A retrospective chart review correlated clinical and demographic information. Univariate logistic regression, independent-samples t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient identified differences among subgroups. RESULTS: Of the 1,345 patients, 181 (13.5%) completed the survey. The most significant barriers to care included fear of COVID (76/181; 42.0%), wait times (21/181; 11.6%), and costs (11/181; 6.1%). Patients who got their COVID information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (7.8 ± 2.4) and televised news (8.0 ± 2.0) had higher levels of fear. Finally, patients with diabetic retinopathy and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores had greater concerns of COVID (P = .034 and P = .047, respectively). CONCLUSION: This survey study suggests fear of COVID-19 is a prominent new barrier to retinal care. Identifying those at risk for loss to follow-up can guide practices as the pandemic continues.
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U2 - 10.3928/23258160-20210904-01
DO - 10.3928/23258160-20210904-01
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34661462
AN - SCOPUS:85118101284
SN - 2325-8160
VL - 52
SP - 526
EP - 533
JO - Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers and Imaging Retina
JF - Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers and Imaging Retina
IS - 10
ER -