Sensory Health and Universal Health Coverage in Canada-An Environmental Scan

Background/Objectives: The World Federation of the Deafblind Global Report 2023 reports that many countries do not have a comprehensive identification, assessment, and referral system for persons with deafblindness, a combination of hearing and vision loss, across all age groups and geographic regions. The scan seeks to inform researchers, policymakers, and community-based organizations about the status of and gaps in sensory healthcare initiatives in Canada, with the intent to raise awareness to enhance the integration and coordination of eye and ear care services. Methods: We conducted an environmental scan of Canada's healthcare system and current public health policies addressing vision and hearing care in Canada at the federal and provincial levels. The scan was conducted using published literature searches from five scientific databases-Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, PubMed, and CINAHL-in combination with the gray literature review of federal, provincial, and territorial governments and non-profit organizations' websites from April 2011-October 2022. Out of 1257 articles screened, 86 studies were included that met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. In total, 13 reports were included in the gray literature search, with 99 total articles used in the analysis. Results: The thematic findings indicate stigma and discrimination toward individuals with disabilities and marginalized communities (Indigenous people, rural communities, recent immigrants, people of older age, and people with disabilities), including hearing, vision, or dual sensory loss, persist. Barriers to vision and hearing healthcare access include inadequate policies, underinvestment in vision and/or hearing services, limited collaboration and coordinated services between hearing and vision services, discrepancies in insurance coverages, and lack of health system support. Conclusions: This scan demonstrates the persisting barriers to vision and/or hearing services present in Canada, stemming from inadequate policy and limited service coordination. Future work to address gaps, evaluate public education, and develop integrated sensory healthcare initiatives to enhance coordinated eye and ear care services, as recommended in the WHO Report on Hearing and Vision, is imperative.

Influence of continuous 4C nursing on quality of life and self-care ability of patients with diabetes retinopathy: An observational study

This study aims to investigate the impact of continuous 4C nursing on patients with diabetes retinopathy (DR) and its influence on self-care ability. A total of 100 DR patients admitted to our hospital from October 2020 to October 2022 were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, with 50 cases in each group. The control group received routine care, while the observation group received continuous 4C care. The nursing effects of both groups were compared. After nursing, the observation group showed a lower self-rating anxiety scale score and a higher self-care ability scale score compared to the control group (P < .05). The SQQL-VI scores for all social activities were also higher in the observation group (P < .05). Additionally, the observation group had lower levels of fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin than the control group (P < .05). Moreover, the observation group had higher visual acuity and lower intraocular pressure than the control group (P < .05). The visual impairment rate was lower and the overall compliance rate was higher in the observation group compared to the control group (P < .05). After nursing, both groups showed improvements in symptoms, visual function, physical function, psychological and social activity scores, visual acuity, and patient satisfaction scores. The observation group showed greater improvements compared to the control group (P < .05). The application of continuous 4C nursing in DR patients has shown positive effects, including improved patient compliance and satisfaction, enhanced patient quality of life and visual acuity. These findings suggest that continuous 4C nursing should be widely promoted and applied in clinical practice.

Knowledge level and health information-seeking behavior of people with diabetes in rural areas: a multicenter cross-sectional study

Introduction

There is a lack of research on the current level of diabetes knowledge and health information-seeking behaviors among patients with diabetes in rural areas of China's economically underdeveloped regions during COVID-19, as well as a lack of up-to-date evidence on glycemic control and the incidence of complications among rural patients with diabetes.

Objectives

To investigate the prevalence of glycemic control and complications among patients with diabetes in rural areas, to explore the current status and correlation of diabetes knowledge level and health information-seeking behavior, and to analyze the factors affecting diabetes knowledge level.

Methods

From January 2022 to July 2022, we conducted a screening on diabetic complications and a questionnaire survey among 2,178 patients with diabetes in 15 county hospitals in rural areas of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The patients' knowledge level and health information-seeking behavior were investigated. Spearman correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between diabetes knowledge and health information-seeking behavior. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to test how demographic information and health information-seeking behavior influenced the level of diabetes knowledge.

Results

Of 2,178 patients with diabetes in rural areas, 1,684 (77.32%) had poor glycemic control, and the prevalence of diabetic complications was estimated to be 72.13%. Patients with diabetes had poor diabetes knowledge and health information-seeking behavior, and there is a strong positive correlation between them. Diabetes knowledge level was influenced by per capita household disposable income, occupational status, gender, age, ethnicity, family history of diabetes, insulin use, glycated hemoglobin, education level, number of complications and health information-seeking behavior.

Conclusion

Patients with diabetes in rural areas have poor glycemic control and a high incidence of diabetic complications. Patients with diabetes in rural areas have poor knowledge and inadequate health information-seeking behavior. Systematic and standardized education should be provided to improve patients' diabetes knowledge and thus improve their self-management ability.

Structured Counselling and Regular Telephonic follow up to improve Referral flow and compliance in Nepal for Diabetic Retinopathy(SCREEN-D Study): a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is an emerging public health issue, leading to severe visual impairment or blindness. Early identification and prompt treatment play a key role in achieving good visual outcomes. The objective of the study was to estimate the effectiveness of SCREEN package on improving referral compliance from peripheral centres to a tertiary eye centre in Nepal.

METHODS

In this facility-based cluster-randomized trial, ten out of 19 referring centres of the tertiary eye care centre in Lumbini zone, Nepal were randomized into intervention and control groups. A SCREEN packagewereprovided as intervention for DR patients who require advanced treatment in the tertiary centres and was compared with the current practice of the control arm, where structured counselling and follow-up mechanism are absent. Compliance was estimated by a weekly follow-up between the referring centre and the referred hospital.

RESULTS

We recruited 302 participantsof whom 153 were in the intervention arm. The mean age of the participants was 57.8 years (Standard deviation [SD]±11.7 years). With implementation of SCREEN package71.2% (n=109) in the intervention group and 42.9% (n=64) in the control group were compliant till three months of follow-up (Difference 28.3%, 95% CI: 17.6- 39.0, p<0.05). Compliance was 43% (n=66) with counselling alone, and 66% (n=103) with first telephonic follow-up in the intervention arm. The mean duration to reach the referral centre was 14.7 days (SD± 9.4 days) and 18.2 days (SD± 9.1 days) in the intervention and the control arm, respectively (Difference 3.5 days, 95% CI: 0.7 to 6.4 days).

CONCLUSIONS

Counselling& follow-up to patients is the key factor to improve the utilization of the health services by patients with DR. Health systems must be strengthened by optimizing the existing referral structure in Nepal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04834648 , 08/04/2021.

Factors associated with nonattendance at annual diabetes check-up in Ningbo, China: a case-control study

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a grave issue in China. The annual check-up is recommended in clinical guidelines on T2DM. It plays an important role in monitoring and managing the condition and detecting and managing any comorbidities and T2DM-related complications. However, people with T2DM may miss the annual check-up, and the benefits of this check-up are lost. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the factors associated with nonattendance at the annual T2DM check-up in Ningbo, China.

Methods

A case-control study was conducted using the Ningbo National Metabolic Management Center dataset. Cases were people with T2DM who were alive but did not attend the first annual check-up, scheduled between 1 March 2019 and 28 February 2022 (n = 1,549). Controls were people with T2DM who were alive and attended the first annual check-up during the same period (n = 1,354). The characteristics of cases and controls were compared using logistic regressions.

Results

The odds of being a female [odds ratio (OR) 1.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.50], alcohol drinker (1.26, 1.06-1.49), and with glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥7% (1.67, 1.42-1.97) were higher among case patients than controls. The odds of being a high school graduate (0.77, 0.66-0.89) and on standard treatments in addition to lifestyle modification (oral hypoglycemic drug 0.63, 0.42-0.96; oral hypoglycemic drug and injection therapy 0.48, 0.32-0.73) were lower among case patients than controls.

Conclusion

The factors associated with nonattendance at the annual T2DM check-up in Ningbo, China were female sex, not a high school graduate, alcohol drinker, HbA1c ≥7%, and only on lifestyle modification. The study findings should be used for improving attendance at the annual check-up among people with T2DM in Ningbo.

Examining the Role of Telemedicine in Diabetic Retinopathy

With the increasing prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR), screening is of the utmost importance to prevent vision loss for patients and reduce financial costs for the healthcare system. Unfortunately, it appears that the capacity of optometrists and ophthalmologists to adequately perform in-person screenings of DR will be insufficient within the coming years. Telemedicine offers the opportunity to expand access to screening while reducing the economic and temporal burden associated with current in-person protocols. The present literature review summarizes the latest developments in telemedicine for DR screening, considerations for stakeholders, barriers to implementation, and future directions in this area. As the role of telemedicine in DR screening continues to expand, further work will be necessary to continually optimize practices and improve long-term patient outcomes.

Diabetes knowledge and training needs among non-endocrinology nurses

Background

It is necessary to determine the diabetes knowledge level among non-endocrinology nurses in primary care hospitals to develop continuing education strategies.

Method

A questionnaire survey was conducted among 6819 non-endocrinology nurses in 70 primary hospitals in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to assess their diabetes knowledge level and training needs. Factors affecting knowledge level were analyzed using multiple linear regression models.

Results

Diabetes knowledge was low, particularly for diabetes monitoring. Knowledge was higher in nurses who had in-service education and training in diabetes; most believed that training was necessary and hoped to improve their ability to care for diabetic patients. The most suitable training method was considered to be each nurse was taught by an assigned person after centralized specialized education and training.

Conclusion

Non-endocrinology nurses in primary care hospitals lack knowledge of diabetes and have a strong need for training. Systematic training is required to ensure that patients receive high-quality and comprehensive care.

The value of handholding during intravitreal injections

BACKGROUND

Repeated intravitreal injections (IVI) have become the therapeutic standard of care for multiple retinal conditions. Reducing discomfort and anxiety around IVIs is important to ensure ongoing patient compliance with therapy.

AIMS

The study aimed to investigate if handholding during an IVI reduces patient anxiety, and to ascertain if their anxiety lessens following repeated therapy.

METHODS

Patients attending for IVIs were asked preoperatively to plot their anxiety level using the visual analogue scale for anxiety (VASA) from 0-10. They were randomised into three groups: Hand-Held-Skin-to-Skin (HHS), Hand-Held-Skin-to-Glove (HHG) and Hand-not-Held (HNH) during IVI. Post-IVI, patients were asked to recall and plot their experienced level of anxiety at the time of their first injection (First Injection Anxiety, FIA) on the 0-10 visual analogue scale for anxiety. Both hand-held cohorts were also asked their preference for handholding for future injections.

RESULTS

In total, 195 patients were surveyed: HHS, n = 67; HHG, n = 58 and HNH, n = 70. A total of 98% of respondents in both Hand-Held cohorts stated they found the intervention useful in reducing anxiety, with 97% saying they would like their hand held for subsequent IVIs. Patients' anxiety levels significantly reduced when their hand was held gloved or ungloved for IVIs (p = 0.007). IVI associated anxiety did not lessen with repeated therapy.

CONCLUSION

Patient stress levels are considerably reduced when their hand is held during IVI. Handholding is a useful intervention throughout the patient journey and not solely at the time of initiation of treatment.

The Effect on Patients' Visual Acuity and Grade, Secondary to Non-Attendance at Treatment Centers, Post Referral from Diabetic RetinaScreen Ireland

Background

Patient non-attendance following referral to hospital is a significant challenge, in particular, for persons with diabetes.

Aim

We sought to determine the impact on both visual acuity and the subsequent follow-up retinopathy grade of patients when they fail to attend Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment (DRT) Centers following referral from Diabetic RetinaScreen (DRS).

Methods

A retrospective analysis of patients discharged from DRT due to multiple consecutive missed appointments between January 2016 and June 2021. Patients discharged for non-attendance were compared with patients discharged from completed treatment.

Results

Of the 24,945 NEC patients referred to DRT, 5900 (24%) and 9345 (37%) were discharged back to DRS due to non-attendance and completed treatment, respectively. Those discharged for non-attendance were younger (60.7 v 63.4, p < 0.001) and had higher proportions of males (67% v 63%, p < 0.001) and people with type 1 diabetes (27% v 18%, p < 0.001). After attending rescreening after discharge, those discharged for non-attendance were significantly more likely to have a worsening of DR grade (26% v 8%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Despite being notified that further investigation (with possible treatment) was required post DRS, many diabetic patients failed to attend for further management of their eye care in DRT. These patients had worse visual outcomes compared to those that attended. Improved patient education and communication are required to mitigate against the consequences of non-attendance.

Patient Trust in Physicians Matters-Understanding the Role of a Mobile Patient Education System and Patient-Physician Communication in Improving Patient Adherence Behavior: Field Study

BACKGROUND

The ultimate goal of any prescribed medical therapy is to achieve desired outcomes of patient care. However, patient nonadherence has long been a major problem detrimental to patient health and, thus, is a concern for all health care providers. Moreover, nonadherence is extremely costly for global medical systems because of unnecessary complications and expenses. Traditional patient education programs often serve as an intervention tool to increase patients' self-care awareness, disease knowledge, and motivation to change patient behaviors for better adherence. Patient trust in physicians, patient-physician relationships, and quality of communication have also been identified as critical factors influencing patient adherence. However, little is known about how mobile patient education technologies help foster patient adherence.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to empirically investigate whether and how a mobile patient education system (MPES) juxtaposed with patient trust can increase patient adherence to prescribed medical therapies.

METHODS

This study was conducted based on a field survey of 125 patients in multiple states in the United States who have used an innovative mobile health care system for their health care education and information seeking. Partial least squares techniques were used to analyze the collected data.

RESULTS

The results revealed that patient-physician communication and the use of an MPES significantly increase patients' trust in their physicians. Furthermore, patient trust has a prominent effect on patient attitude toward treatment adherence, which in turn influences patients' behavioral intention and actual adherence behavior. Based on the theory of planned behavior, the results also indicated that behavioral intention, response efficacy, and self-efficacy positively influenced patients' actual treatment adherence behavior, whereas descriptive norms and subjective norms do not play a role in this process.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study is one of the first that examines the relationship between patients who actively use an MPES and their trust in their physicians. This study contributes to this context by enriching the trust literature, addressing the call to identify key patient-centered technology determinants of trust, advancing the understanding of patient adherence mechanisms, adding a new explanation of the influence of education mechanisms delivered via mobile devices on patient adherence, and confirming that the theory of planned behavior holds in this patient adherence context.

Social Determinants of Health and Impact on Screening, Prevalence, and Management of Diabetic Retinopathy in Adults: A Narrative Review

Diabetic retinal disease (DRD) is the leading cause of blindness among working-aged individuals with diabetes. In the United States, underserved and minority populations are disproportionately affected by diabetic retinopathy and other diabetes-related health outcomes. In this narrative review, we describe racial disparities in the prevalence and screening of diabetic retinopathy, as well as the wide-range of disparities associated with social determinants of health (SDOH), which include socioeconomic status, geography, health-care access, and education.

The Vision Detroit Project: Integrated Screening and Community Eye-Health Education Interventions Improve Eyecare Awareness

PURPOSE

Poor eye-health knowledge and health literacy are pervasive, contributing to worse outcomes. This study aims to examine short- and long-term eye-health knowledge retention following eye-health education interventions in adults.

METHODS

Vision Detroit was an outreach vision screening program that integrated a 5-Point Teaching Intervention (5PTI), at a Southwest Community Center (SW-CC) from 2015-2017. The 5PTI consists of eye-health learning points developed to verbally educate patients. During vision screenings, eye-health knowledge tests were administered before and after 5PTI (Test 1 and Test 2, respectively). In 2016, Community Eye-Health Education Interventions (CHEI) were initiated at the SW-CC. During CHEI, bilingual healthcare students taught voluntary SW-CC members the 5PTI learning points, regardless of participant interest to attend future screenings. CHEI sessions occurred on separate dates prior to vision screening events. Test 1 and Test 2 scores were compared for all participants. Test 1 scores were compared for those who underwent CHEI prior to vision screening (CHEI positive) versus those who did not (CHEI negative).

RESULTS

Two-hundred-seventeen adult patients met inclusion criteria, with 75.8% women, 82.6% Hispanic, mean age 50.4 ± 16.2 years, 74.6% had high school or less education, and 49.2% had health insurance. Test 1 to Test 2 scores improved after 5PTI (71.2 ± 26.4% vs. 97.2 ± 9.9%, p < .00001). Forty-eight participants attended CHEI and subsequent vision screening. Test 1 scores were higher among those CHEI positive versus CHEI negative (81.1 ± 2.1% vs. 68.3 ± 3.4%, p = .0027).

CONCLUSION

Simple eye-health education interventions, delivered during vision screenings and via community-based education, can improve eye-health knowledge.

What conservative interventions improve bite function in those with temporomandibular disorders? A systematic review using self-reported and physical measures

BACKGROUND

Bite is an important function of the human stomatognathic system. Despite this, it is commonly impaired in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) populations. The aim of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of conservative interventions on self-reported and physical measures of bite function in individuals with TMD.

METHODS

This review was performed in compliance with PRISMA guidelines. An electronic search was performed on databases including Pubmed, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane Central. Inclusion criteria were journal articles evaluating the effect of any non-pharmacological conservative interventions on bite function in participants diagnosed with TMD. Risk of bias for individual studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias v2 tool, and the NIH NHLBI pre-post tool. Data was synthesised based on outcome measures of bite function, and the quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.

RESULTS

Eleven studies were eligible for this review. Interventions included splinting, photobiomodulation, needling, exercise, manual therapy, and patient education; which were evaluated using mastication-related pain, self-reported chewing difficulty, and bite force/endurance outcome measures. Findings suggested manual therapy, needling, oral splinting, exercise and PBM interventions may improve bite function in TMD, although confidence in cumulative evidence ranged from moderate to very low. There was no evidence that patient education improved bite function.

CONCLUSION

Conservative interventions may be helpful to address bite-related impairments associated with TMD, although further research is needed to improve the quality of evidence and direct clinical guidelines.

Educational intervention to adopt selective laser trabeculoplasty as first-line glaucoma treatment: Randomized controlled trial: Educational intervention on selective laser trabeculoplasty

PURPOSE

To determine the efficacy of an educational intervention on patient adoption and attitudes toward selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) as first-line treatment for glaucoma.

METHODS

This study is a randomized controlled trial. Subjects include 33 patients within 1-year diagnosis of either primary open-angle glaucoma, ocular hypertension, or pseudoexfoliation syndrome. After informed consent, subjects were randomly assigned to a Usual Care or Educational Intervention group. All subjects completed a pre-intervention questionnaire. The Educational Intervention group was shown a slideshow presentation and a 3-min video and given a post-intervention questionnaire. Follow-up examinations were reviewed for 6 months to determine subject completion of SLT, the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include assessment of attitude toward SLT before and after intervention.

RESULTS

Age, gender, and baseline characteristics between the groups did not differ. The Usual Care group had a higher proportion of African Americans (77% vs 31%, p = 0.04). At 6 months following the intervention, 63% of subjects underwent SLT compared to 35% of Usual Care subjects (p = 0.12). Older age was associated with decreased SLT uptake (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82-0.99, p = 0.03). Prior to the intervention, there were no differences in attitudes of both groups regarding SLT therapy. Nineteen percent of Educational Intervention subjects changed positively toward SLT (p = 0.08) and 50% scheduled an SLT appointment after intervention (p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

A slideshow and video-based educational intervention may positively enhance patient adoption of SLT.Clinical trial registration name, number, URL: Educational Intervention to Adopt SLT as First-Line Glaucoma Treatment, NCT03365778, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03365778.

Health education improves referral compliance of persons with probable Diabetic Retinopathy: A randomized controlled trial

Objective

Lack of awareness about Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is the most commonly cited reason why many persons with type 2 diabetes are non-compliant with referral instruction to undergo retinal screening. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a culturally, geographically and socially appropriate, locally adapted five-month-long health education on referral compliance of participants.

Method

A prospective randomized, open-label parallel group study was conducted on persons with type 2 diabetes who underwent basic eye screening at a diabetes hospital between September 2017 and August 2018. Participants who were noncompliant with referral instruction to visit a hospital for advanced DR management were randomly divided into health education intervention group (n = 143) and control group (n = 156). Both groups received information regarding DR and referral instruction at the diabetes hospital. The intervention group was provided personalized education followed by telephonic reminders. The primary endpoint was ‘increase in referral compliance’ and the secondary endpoint was ‘increase in knowledge of DR’. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify significant predictors of compliance to referral.

Results

A total of nine participants dropped and 290 completed the post intervention survey. The compliance rate in intervention group was found to be significantly higher than the control group (64.3% vs 28.2%; OR 4.73; 95% CI 2.87–7.79; p<0.001). Participants in the intervention group acquired better knowledge on DR (p<0.05). Apart from intervention, referral compliance rate was also found to be significantly associated with participants’ self-perception of vision problem (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.02–4.01; p = 0.045) and participants’ income (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.06–1.44; p = 0.008).

Discussion

Our results suggest that intensive health education on DR should be integrated with diabetes education as it may result in significantly improved referral compliance. Outcomes may be sustainable if interventions are institutionalized at referral point.

Trial registration

Clinical Trials.gov (Registration # NCT03658980); https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03658980.