Aim
To describe current diabetic retinopathy
(DR) screening and management
practices among Australian general
practitioners
Discussion
Given that access to optometry is not
evenly distributed across the country,
and that ophthalmology is underresourced, GPs are the healthcare
providers most able to manage and
screen for DR in the community.
Results
Only 29% of the GP respondents had
read the National Health and Research
Council guidelines at least once and
41% had a ‘moderate’ to ‘strong’ desire
to screen for DR. A majority of GPs
(74%) reported not routinely examining
their diabetic patients for DR. Lack of
confidence in detecting DR changes
(86.4%) and time constraints (73.4%)
were the two major barriers to GPs
performing dilated fundoscopy on
diabetic patients.
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