Optometry students evaluating patient satisfaction and clinically analysing a community-based diabetic ocular screening clinic

Lecturer: Eva Doyle

As part of the BSc in Optometry (DT224) 4th year students in their Supervised Practice Module worked with Dr Louise O’Toole from the Diabetic screening Clinic, Tallaght Hospital to pilot a diabetic retinopathy screening and optometry service provision scheme in order to assist with alleviating a four-year hospital waiting list and to provide clinical experience for the students.  

Between July 2008 and December 2009, 100 patients visited the National Optometry Clinic (NOC), DIT for diabetic screening. Of those 100 patients, 53 had a dilated fundus exam only and the other 47 had a full sight test then a dilated fundus exam. The sight tests were carried out by final year optometry students under the supervision of a professionally qualified optometrist, the dilated fundus exams were carried out by ophthalmologist Dr Louise O’Toole who was shadowed by the fourth year student in attendance in the clinic on that day. The students also undertook to carry out projects in the following areas:

  • A pilot study to evaluate patient satisfaction with the clinic.
  • Analysis of the ocular manifestations of diabetes within the clinic.
  • Development of educational material for students and patients.

What do the students get from it?

The students had the opportunity to learn how to exam diabetic patients with a view to determining whether there were any ocular manifestations of their condition and to educate patients as to measures likely to reduce the development of associated ocular conditions. It also helped students to develop and apply specialist knowledge in the areas of investigative techniques, patient case evaluation and management studies.

What do the community get from it?

This project has been beneficial to the community in a variety of ways. It has shown that the clinic is a useful service to the community and Tallaght Hospital. The 100 patients that visited the NOC for diabetic screening on this project helped to reduce the back log of patients waiting for such screening in Tallaght Hospital and the questionnaire which was devised to evaluate patient satisfaction with the clinic showed a positive response to the clinic in general and 100% of those surveyed siad they would be happy to return. The results from the analysis of the ocular manifestations of diabetes within the clinic were presented at the annual conference of European Association for the Study of Diabetes in May 2009. And finally a manual for students explaining diabetes and what is needed to carry out a comprehensive examination of the diabetic patient was drawn up and a brochure for patient education was designed.

Thus the body of work that the students produced will improve the implementation of the clinic for community use in future years.  

Community partners:

National Optometry Centre, DIT

Diabetic Screening Clinic, Tallaght Hospital