Dissertation
Increasing Adult Diabetic Retinopathy Screening
University of Iowa
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), University of Iowa
Spring 2025
Abstract
Background: Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease affecting millions globally, with rising prevalence and complications. When diabetes is poorly managed, it can lead to various complications, including damage to the coronary arteries, as well as peripheral and cerebral vascular diseases, neuropathies, nephropathies, and retinopathies. Diabetic retinopathy is a neurovascular complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, a significant cause of vision loss and blindness in individuals aged 18 to 65 in the U.S. Without regular screenings, patients may be unaware of the condition until complications arise. Purpose: Evidence indicates early diagnosis is crucial for preventing vision loss in asymptomatic individuals and slowing progression in those with symptoms. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommend regular eye screenings for diabetic patients to detect early diabetic retinopathy stages. Methods: This quality improvement project utilized the PDSA cycle over 6 months to improve education, documentation, and completion rates of diabetic eye exams for adults aged 18 to 75. The project involved a Primary Care Provider (PCP) in a rural family medicine clinic with an adult diabetic population of 155-161 patients. Findings: Data analysis demonstrated a 16% increase in diabetic eye exams when comparing the end of 2023 to the end of 2024 with a p-value of 0.003%. In June 2024, 55% of patients completed their exams, rising to 69.6% by December 2024 a 14.6% increase. Discussion: This project demonstrated that improving workflow in a family medicine clinic can significantly increase completed retinopathy exams and provide a cost-effective quality improvement strategy to improve diabetic eye disease outcomes. By increasing diabetic eye exam completion rates, we aim to lower patients' risk of organ damage and benefit the clinic financially under its value-based purchasing plan.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Increasing Adult Diabetic Retinopathy Screening
- Creators
- Jaqueline Brice - University of Iowa
- Contributors
- Amalia Gedney-Lose (Chair) - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Project Type
- Poster
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Date degree season
- Spring 2025
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- 1 page
- Copyright
- Copyright 2025 Jaqueline Brice
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Nursing; Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
- Record Identifier
- 9984841529102771
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