Publications by authors named "Loren J Lock"
Purpose: Latinx populations have the highest rates of visual impairment and blindness of any ethnic group in the United States, with most cases of diabetic retinopathy remaining undiagnosed. We aimed to identify factors influencing adherence with diabetic eye screening in Latinx communities.
Methods: We conducted semistructured individual interviews with adult Latinx patients in Dane County, WI.
Background: Latinx populations in the United States bear a disproportionate burden of diabetic eye disease. Teleophthalmology with and without artificial intelligence (AI)-based image interpretation are validated methods for diabetic eye screening, but limited literature exists on patient perspectives. This study aimed at understanding the perspectives of Latinx patients with diabetes on teleophthalmology, AI-based image interpretation, and general virtual care to prevent avoidable blindness in this population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEffect of health system on the association of rurality and level of disadvantage with receipt of diabetic eye screening.
BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care
December 2022
Article Synopsis
- Rural and urban areas show disparities in diabetic eye screening, but the role of disadvantage in these differences is unclear.
- A study analyzed data from over 118,000 adults with diabetes in Wisconsin to understand how the level of rurality and disadvantage impacts screening access based on health systems.
- Results indicated that urban underserved clinics initially had lower screening rates, but once health system factors were accounted for, urban patients were actually more likely to receive screening than their rural counterparts.*
This cohort study uses statewide claims data to assess variability in diabetic eye disease screening across Wisconsin health systems and to examine the association between patient health system and screening receipt.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Teleophthalmology is an underused telehealth service for diabetic retinopathy screening, highlighting the need for improved adoption in US primary care clinics.
- The study developed a tailored implementation program called I-SITE, using a healthcare process improvement model, to enhance teleophthalmology use by engaging clinical and patient stakeholders.
- Results showed significant increases in teleophthalmology adoption among primary care providers involved in I-SITE, with a major boost in the use of diabetic eye screenings for performance-based incentives post-implementation.
Teleophthalmology is a validated method for diabetic eye screening that is underutilized in U.S. primary care clinics.
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