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Telemedicine Screening for Eye Disorders in Federally Qualified Health Centers: Relationship to Vision-Targeted Health-Related Quality of Life.
- Source :
-
Telemedicine & e-Health . Jul2024, Vol. 30 Issue 7, pe2080-e2086. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Introduction: Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) play a crucial role as safety-net primary health care clinics in the United States, serving medically underserved areas and populations. However, eye services are rarely offered at FQHCs. We examined how telemedicine-generated ocular diagnoses impacted vision-targeted health-related quality of life at FQHCs in rural Alabama. Methods: We focused on patients who are at risk for glaucoma. Both visual function and retinal imaging were assessed. The telemedicine vision screening protocol performed by a remote ophthalmologist evaluated eyes for glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataract, age-related macular degeneration, and a measurement of habitual visual acuity. The National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire–9 (VFQ-9) was administered. Results: Using stepwise regression, the best-fitting model for predicting VFQ-9 scores incorporated visual acuity 20/40 or worse, a diabetic retinopathy diagnosis, and sociodemographic variables (gender, transportation, insurance type/status, and employment status). Conclusion: Vision-targeted, health-related quality of life in our FQHC settings was related to the visual acuity impairment and the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy but was also influenced by a variety of sociodemographic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *QUALITY of life
*MEDICAL screening
*VISION
*MEDICAL centers
*MACULAR degeneration
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15305627
- Volume :
- 30
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Telemedicine & e-Health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 178530904
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2023.0695