Image by Arnon Thongkonghan/Shutterstock

Patients with diabetes who recognize their healthcare provider's recommendation for an ophthalmology consultation are more likely to undergo a diabetic retinopathy examination (fundus examination). Moreover, individuals who understood the recommended frequency of ophthalmology visits have a higher likelihood of undergoing fundus examinations. Enhancing patient awareness of these recommendations may improve diabetic retinopathy screening rates.

Tsukuba, Japan—Diabetic retinopathy is a severe complication of diabetes that can lead to blindness. The Japanese clinical practice guidelines for diabetes recommend that individuals undergo a fundus examination at least once a year to screen for diabetic retinopathy. However, previous studies indicate that fewer than half of individuals with diabetes in Japan undergo regular fundus examinations.

To examine whether patients' recognition of ophthalmology consultation recommendations influences fundus examination rates, a research team conducted a secondary analysis using data from a questionnaire survey of individuals with diabetes. The survey was conducted in FY2022 among National Health Insurance beneficiaries in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture. This cross-sectional study assessed the association between recognition of ophthalmology consultation recommendations and the likelihood of undergoing fundus examinations by linking claims data with questionnaire responses. Among the 290 respondents, those who recognized ophthalmology consultation recommendations were twice as likely to undergo a fundus examination compared with those who did not (72.9% vs. 30.1%). Furthermore, individuals who recognized the recommendation were significantly more likely to understand the recommended frequency of ophthalmology visits.

These findings underscore the importance of improving patient recognition and understanding of ophthalmology consultation recommendations to increase participation in fundus examinations. Medical institutions and administrative agencies can leverage these findings to strengthen educational initiatives and enhance information dissemination, thereby improving patient awareness and adherence to ophthalmology consultations.

###
This research was supported by Health and Labor Sciences Research Grants, Grant/Award Numbers: 20FA1016 (FY2020-2022), 23FA1020 (FY2023-2025); Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grant/Award Number: JP23K24585.

Original Paper

Title of original paper:

Recognition of ophthalmology consultation and fundus examination among individuals with diabetes in Japan: A cross-sectional study using claims-questionnaire linked data

Journal:

Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism

DOI:

10.1111/dom.16164

Correspondence

Professor SUGIYAMA Takehiro
Health Services Research and Development Center / Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba
Diabetes and Metabolism Information Center, Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine

Professor YAMAUCHI Toshimasa
Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo

Related Link

Institute of Medicine
Health Services Research and Development Center