Digitalisation In Glaucoma Consultations In Spain: The Digitoft Project
Published 2025 - 43rd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: FP04.06 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/8sg5-ca23
Authors: Francesc March De Ribot* 1 , Carlos Vergés 2 , Verónica Ribas 2 , José Salgado-Borges 3 , Ana Giménez-Capitán 4
1Department of Ophthalmology. Girona Hospital, Girona University, Catalunya, Spain. ,girona,Spain, 2Department of Ophthalmology. Dexeus University Hospital. University of Barcelona. Barcelona, Spain. ,Barcelona,Spain, 3Clinsborges. Porto. Portugal,porto,Portugal, 4Pangaea, Laboratory of Oncology, Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona,Spain
Purpose
To describe the design and functioning of the new digitalization circuit for consultations and for intraocular pressure (IOP) follow-up as part of the DiGITOft Project –a pioneer digitalisation project in our country.
Setting
This study is set within a public hospital setting in Barcelona, Spain which involves specifically trained optometry and ophthalmology teams and aims to lower waiting lists and increase quality of care.
Methods
Descriptive 2-year study in which we show results of our telediagnostics circuit in terms of discharge or referral to the different steps in the circuit (reinsertion into the telediagnostics circuit, face-to-face consultation with a general ophthalmologist, face-to-face consultation with a specialist ophthalmologist), in general and focused to the area of glaucoma. Calculations are also done about the proportion of extra patients that can be seen telematically due to time saving, as well as the waiting times required since referral, and also the proportion of false-positive and false-negative diagnoses by the optometrists. A satisfaction survey rated 0-5 is also performed to a sample of patients.
Results
Out of the 2000 patients included in the circuit, 23% we directly discharged by an optometrist, 21% did not show up, 20% were referred to a general ophthalmologist face-to-face, 21% returned to the telediagnostics circuit, 6% were given a new virtual consultation and only 9% needed to see a specialist ophthalmologist face-to-face. Of our patients, 10% had been referred by their primary care doctor due to high IOP or glaucoma suspicion. The number of patients seen this way in a standard schedule increased by 60%, and waiting time decrease from 15 months to only 1 (94% time reduction). In the satisfaction survey, patients rated the service 4.73 out of 5 (s.d. 0.7).
Conclusions
Digitalisation in health and, particularly, in a glaucoma consultation is an efficient manner to solve management problemes in a public health system. It lowers waiting lists and referral time, improves overall patient health care an dynamises consultations. Additionally, patient satisfaction is high. Our results are in line with similar European projects.