Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential of using primary care optometry data to support ophthalmic public health, research and policy making. Suppliers of optometric electronic patient record systems (EPRs) were interviewed to gather information about the data present in commercial software programmes and the feasibility of data extraction. Researchers were presented with a list of metrics that might be included in an optometric practice dataset via a survey circulated by email to 102 researchers known to have an interest in eye health. Respondents rated the importance of each metric for research. A further survey presented the list of metrics to 2000 randomly selected members of the College of Optometrists. The optometrists were asked to specify how likely they were to enter information about each metric in a routine sight test consultation. They were also asked if data were entered as free text, menus or a combination of these. Current EPRs allowed the input of data relating to the metrics of interest. Most data entry was free text. There was a good match between high priority metrics for research and those commonly recorded in optometric practice. Although there were plenty of electronic data in optometric practice, this was highly variable and often not in an easily analysed format. To facilitate analysis of the evidence for public health purposes a UK based minimum dataset containing standardised clinical information is recommended. Further research would be required to develop suitable coding for the individual metrics included. The dataset would need to capture information from all sectors of the population to ensure effective planning of any future interventions.
Highlights
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential of using clinical data available in primary care optometry to provide the supporting evidence needed for ophthalmic public health, research and policy making
Each interview covered the specific elements from an eye examination that could be recorded, their format, how much additional variation might be introduced by the user, whether data were held in practice or on a central server and how readily data might be extracted for uses such as public health
The guidance was used to create a list of metrics that might be usefully included in an optometric practice dataset (Table 1)
Summary
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential of using clinical data available in primary care optometry to provide the supporting evidence needed for ophthalmic public health, research and policy making. In UK medical practice, the introduction and use of electronic patient records (EPR) was driven by a desire to reduce clinical errors, improve patient safety and decrease duplication.[5] Medical records contain diagnoses, prescribing patterns and details of care outcomes, often from birth, that may inform research[1] and public health through improved disease surveillance and monitoring of health inequalities.[6,7] Efforts to improve data quality have included the adoption of clinical coding standards and a requirement for all systems to meet a minimum service specification.[5,8].
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