Ocular Morbidity—A Critical Analysis to Improve Outpatient Services in an Eye Department in a Sub-Saharan Megacity
The aim of this study was to analyse outpatient services in an ophthalmic clinic of a church-run hospital providing secondary level care in an African megacity, paying special attention to the poorest users of the services. The range of examination was reviewed from 500 patient records of all ages c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/17/3791 |
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| author | Edith Mukwanseke Janvier Kilangalanga Flavien Lutete Adrian Hopkins Rudolf F. Guthoff Stefanie Frech |
| author_facet | Edith Mukwanseke Janvier Kilangalanga Flavien Lutete Adrian Hopkins Rudolf F. Guthoff Stefanie Frech |
| author_sort | Edith Mukwanseke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this study was to analyse outpatient services in an ophthalmic clinic of a church-run hospital providing secondary level care in an African megacity, paying special attention to the poorest users of the services. The range of examination was reviewed from 500 patient records of all ages consecutively chosen on random days attending the outpatient department for the first time in order to optimize workflow and to analyse the offered treatment modalities. Mean age was 41.9 ± 21.9 years, and 53.6% of the patients were female. Of the patients, 74.8% presented with visual impairment. The most frequent findings were refractive errors (35.8%), presbyopia (21.2%), allergic conjunctivitis (14.0%), cataract (13.2%) and glaucoma (6.4%). Patient management consisted of optical treatment (49.6%), surgery (11.4%) and medical treatment (39.0%). These results show the importance of the demand in refractive services and the need to train specific service providers. Knowing the frequencies of common conditions enables more appropriate diagnostic and treatment strategies, e.g., the importance of refractive errors, and should lead to improvements in training, staffing, therapeutics and patient outcomes. This approach can be applied to many other outpatient services and should be evaluated in light of the city’s impoverished health outreach and educational situation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:10:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d34be2e8811142429536941766c49c6e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:10:09Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-d34be2e8811142429536941766c49c6e2023-11-22T10:47:28ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832021-08-011017379110.3390/jcm10173791Ocular Morbidity—A Critical Analysis to Improve Outpatient Services in an Eye Department in a Sub-Saharan MegacityEdith Mukwanseke0Janvier Kilangalanga1Flavien Lutete2Adrian Hopkins3Rudolf F. Guthoff4Stefanie Frech5Centre de Formation Ophtalmologique Pour l’Afrique Centrale, Eye Department, Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Kinshasa P.O. Box 322, Democratic Republic of the CongoCentre de Formation Ophtalmologique Pour l’Afrique Centrale, Eye Department, Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Kinshasa P.O. Box 322, Democratic Republic of the CongoCentre de Formation Ophtalmologique Pour l’Afrique Centrale, Eye Department, Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Kinshasa P.O. Box 322, Democratic Republic of the CongoNational Programme for Eye Health and Vision, Kinshasa P.O. Box 322, Democratic Republic of the CongoDepartment of Ophthalmology, Rostock University Medical Centre, 18057 Rostock, GermanyDepartment of Ophthalmology, Rostock University Medical Centre, 18057 Rostock, GermanyThe aim of this study was to analyse outpatient services in an ophthalmic clinic of a church-run hospital providing secondary level care in an African megacity, paying special attention to the poorest users of the services. The range of examination was reviewed from 500 patient records of all ages consecutively chosen on random days attending the outpatient department for the first time in order to optimize workflow and to analyse the offered treatment modalities. Mean age was 41.9 ± 21.9 years, and 53.6% of the patients were female. Of the patients, 74.8% presented with visual impairment. The most frequent findings were refractive errors (35.8%), presbyopia (21.2%), allergic conjunctivitis (14.0%), cataract (13.2%) and glaucoma (6.4%). Patient management consisted of optical treatment (49.6%), surgery (11.4%) and medical treatment (39.0%). These results show the importance of the demand in refractive services and the need to train specific service providers. Knowing the frequencies of common conditions enables more appropriate diagnostic and treatment strategies, e.g., the importance of refractive errors, and should lead to improvements in training, staffing, therapeutics and patient outcomes. This approach can be applied to many other outpatient services and should be evaluated in light of the city’s impoverished health outreach and educational situation.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/17/3791ocular morbidityeye care managementKinshasa |
| spellingShingle | Edith Mukwanseke Janvier Kilangalanga Flavien Lutete Adrian Hopkins Rudolf F. Guthoff Stefanie Frech Ocular Morbidity—A Critical Analysis to Improve Outpatient Services in an Eye Department in a Sub-Saharan Megacity Journal of Clinical Medicine ocular morbidity eye care management Kinshasa |
| title | Ocular Morbidity—A Critical Analysis to Improve Outpatient Services in an Eye Department in a Sub-Saharan Megacity |
| title_full | Ocular Morbidity—A Critical Analysis to Improve Outpatient Services in an Eye Department in a Sub-Saharan Megacity |
| title_fullStr | Ocular Morbidity—A Critical Analysis to Improve Outpatient Services in an Eye Department in a Sub-Saharan Megacity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ocular Morbidity—A Critical Analysis to Improve Outpatient Services in an Eye Department in a Sub-Saharan Megacity |
| title_short | Ocular Morbidity—A Critical Analysis to Improve Outpatient Services in an Eye Department in a Sub-Saharan Megacity |
| title_sort | ocular morbidity a critical analysis to improve outpatient services in an eye department in a sub saharan megacity |
| topic | ocular morbidity eye care management Kinshasa |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/17/3791 |
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