Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating an Incentive-based Community Eye-care Programme

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Elderly with visual impairment (VI) who undergo community eye screening often do not attend tertiary follow-up even if significant eye diseases are detected. Investigators evaluate an incentive-care scheme (ICS) to improve the attendance rates of tertiary eye-care visits of participants following community eye screening.

Detailed Description
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A randomized controlled study individuals with VI with baseline visual acuity (VA) and vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) assessed in the community. Participants were randomised to either receiving ICS or usual care (UC). ICS is a novel intervention that incorporates patient education, social support, and financial assistance to assist individuals. Participants in UC received a standard GP referral letter advising them to seek further care. Our main outcome measure was compliance to tertiary eye-care referral. Our secondary outcome measure was VA and VRQoL assessed at 3 months.

Official Title
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Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating an Incentive-based Community Eye-care Programme for Elderly With Visual Impairment

Conditions
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Visual Impairment

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Incentive Care


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: the ability to speak English and/or Mandarin, have adequate hearing with/without hearing aids to respond to normal conversation, not currently undergoing regular assessment/care with an ophthalmologist (at least yearly), have the ability to undergo visual acuity testing and provide reliable results, and visual acuity of 6/12 or worse in either eye after best correction Exclusion Criteria: refused informed consent and any other contraindication(s) as indicated by the general practitioner responsible for the participant

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 21 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Usual Care<br>The usual stand of care (UC) after community eye screening was to provide a GP referral letter and advice to attend a tertiary eye care facility most accessible to them | |
| Other: Incentive Care<br>In addition to the UC, those assigned to the ICS also received social and financial support to incentivise and improve compliance. All ICS participants were assisted with scheduling their tertiary care appointments, given telephone reminders, provided once-off transportation allowance and subsidy for their first tertiary eye-care consultation - while participants with mobility issues were assisted by volunteers. | Other: Incentive Care<br>* ICS is a novel intervention that incorporates patient education, social support, and financial assistance to assist individuals.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Compliance to Tertiary Care Follow-up | Percentage of participants who attended follow-up | 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Visual Acuity | Vision checked on Snellen chart | 3 months |