Rawlings, Anna, Hobby, Angharad, Ryan, Barbara, Carson-Stevens, Andrew  ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7580-7699, North, Rachel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6657-5099, Smith, Mathew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5697-0204, Gwyn, Sioned, Sheen, Nik and Acton, Jennifer ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0347-7651
2024.
The burden of acute eye conditions on different healthcare providers: a retrospective population-based study.
British Journal of General Practice
74
, e264-e274.
10.3399/BJGP.2022.0616
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Abstract
Background: The demand for acute eyecare exponentially outstrips capacity. Public awareness of community eyecare services is lacking. Aim: We primarily aimed to quantify the burden of acute eyecare on different healthcare service providers in a national population through prescribing and medicines provision by GPs, optometrists and pharmacists and provision of care by Accident and Emergency (A&E) services. We further aimed to characterise some of the drivers of this burden. Design&Setting: Retrospective data-linkage study set in Wales,UK. Method: Analysis of datasets from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank (GP and A&E), the ‘Eye Health Examination Wales’ service (optometry) and the ‘Common Ailments Scheme’ (pharmacy), during 2017-2018. Results: We identified 65.4 episodes of care per-1,000-people-per-year, a GP prescribing rate of 0.9% and an A&E attendance rate of 0.6%. Optometrists and pharmacists managed 51.8% and 0.6% of all episodes respectively. Older females and infants of both sexes were more likely to use GP prescribing services, while adolescent and middle-aged males were more likely to visit A&E. GP prescribing burden was driven partially by economic deprivation, access to services and health score. Season, day-of-the-week and time-of-day were predictors of burden in GP and A&E. Conclusions: Acute eyecare continues to place considerable burden on GP and A&E services in Wales, particularly in urban areas with greater economic deprivation and lower overall health. This is likely to increase with a rapidly ageing population. With ongoing pathway development to better utilise optometry and pharmacy and improved public awareness, there may be scope to change this trajectory.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Status: | Published |
| Schools: | Schools > Optometry and Vision Sciences Research Institutes & Centres > Prime Centre Wales (PRIME) |
| Publisher: | Royal College of General Practitioners |
| ISSN: | 0960-1643 |
| Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 5 June 2023 |
| Date of Acceptance: | 5 June 2023 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Apr 2024 13:59 |
| URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/160187 |
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