Abstract
To identify a minimum list of metrics of international relevance to public health, research and service development which can be extracted from practice management systems and electronic patient records in primary optometric practice. A two stage modified Delphi technique was used. Stage 1 categorised metrics that may be recorded as being part of a primary eye examination by their importance to research using the results from a previous survey of 40 vision science and public health academics. Delphi stage 2 then gauged the opinion of a panel of seven vision science academics and achieved consensus on contentious metrics and methods of grading/classification. A consensus regarding inclusion and response categories was achieved for nearly all metrics. A recommendation was made of 53 metrics which would be appropriate in a minimum data set. This minimum data set should be easily integrated into clinical practice yet allow vital data to be collected internationally from primary care optometry. It should not be mistaken for a clinical guideline and should not add workload to the optometrist. A pilot study incorporating an additional Delphi stage prior to implementation is advisable to refine some response categories.
Highlights
Accessing data from primary care services is essential for judging such things as population health and care needs, service uptake, patient outcomes and performance of services
The number of metrics within the minimum dataset (MDS) is an issue, if data is to be routinely collected by clinicians anyway, and is extractable from practice electronic patient record software, this is less of an issue
All respondents had an interest in clinical optometric research, their publication histories are extensive and diverse covering public health, epidemiology, electronic patient records, contact lenses, paediatrics, learning disabilities, facial recognition, therapeutics, binocular vision, driving, visual acuity, refractive error, glaucoma and macular disease amongst many others
Summary
Accessing data from primary care services is essential for judging such things as population health and care needs, service uptake, patient outcomes and performance of services. A MDS is a recommendation for standardised minimum set of metrics to be collected along with the method of collection in order to allow aggregated use of data. Metrics to be recorded within a MDS must be clinically relevant, otherwise clinicians are unlikely to record the data consistently and reliably. The format in which a metric is recorded is of importance in order that it has validity for both the clinician who records and utilises it within their practice and for the MDS user (e.g. Researchers and public health professionals) who wishes to process and analyse these data. The number of metrics within the MDS is an issue, if data is to be routinely collected by clinicians anyway, and is extractable from practice electronic patient record software, this is less of an issue
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
