A Review of the Effectiveness of Audio-Only Telemedicine for Chronic Disease Management.

Background: The clinical effectiveness of audio-only telemedicine has not been fully quantified. The pandemic afforded a unique situation to retrospectively observe clinical outcomes of care for three disease cohorts within three care models, including audio-only telemedicine. Methods: Patients were classified into three care models: audio-only telemedicine, in-person, and hybrid. Each model was compared with an aggregate group before the onset of the pandemic and within each group during the pandemic. Each disease cohort was evaluated in cross-sectional and paired analyses. Results: Patients (n = 52,720) were grouped within one of three care models. A majority (n = 48,335) of patients qualified for the "pre" group comparison. The audio-only telemedicine care model showed similar control of renal disease, hypertension control, and diabetes management than in-person and hybrid care models. Conclusions: Audio-only telemedicine appears to be noninferior to in-person or hybrid models for chronic disease management for the diseases studied. In all instances, it had similar control compared with the in-person care model. We acknowledge the limitations of this study, including convenience sampling and a limited observation timeframe. Audio-only telemedicine should be considered a viable care model modality that can be integrated into options for patient care. Further study and investment are warranted, as it provides efficacy and convenience to health systems (Clinical Registration Number # 32449).

Development and validation of a predictive model for nonadherence with once-daily glaucoma medications.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a predictive model to estimate the probability of being nonadherent to topical glaucoma medications. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients being treated with once-daily prostaglandin eye drops. METHODS: A predictive model for nonadherence was developed from the Travatan Dosing Aid (TDA) study (n = 196) using stepwise logistic regression. The performance of the TDA-derived model was assessed using a separate cohort of subjects from the Automated Dosing Reminder Study (ADRS; n = 407). The assessment was based on regression coefficients, discrimination, and calibration. We also developed a scoring system from the TDA-derived model to simplify the estimation of risk for clinical use. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Usage of drops was monitored electronically for 3 months in both studies. Adherence was calculated as the percentage of days on which a dose was taken within 4 hours of the average dosing time for that patient. Nonadherence was defined as taking ≤ 75% prescribed doses within a window starting 2 weeks after the baseline visit until 2 weeks before the follow-up visit. RESULTS: Six factors, including younger age, black race, worse general health status, shorter duration of glaucoma medication therapy, lower self-reported adherence, and admitting to not following doctors' orders, were associated with being nonadherent and were included in the predictive model. The coefficients for the TDA-derived and the ADRS-derived predictive models were similar. The risk scoring system developed from the TDA study had good discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.80) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, P = 0.102) when applied to the ADRS population. CONCLUSIONS: The TDA-derived predictive model for nonadherence performed well in an independent population. A risk scoring system was developed using demographic data and patient responses to 4 questions to provide an estimate of the probability of being nonadherent.

Wavefront-optimized surface retreatments of refractive error following previous laser refractive surgery: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Retreatments are sometimes necessary to correct residual or induced refractive errors following refractive surgery. Many different combinations of primary treatment methods and retreatment techniques have been studied, however, few studies have investigated wavefront-optimized (WFO) technology for retreatment following primary refractive surgery. This study aimed to report the outcomes of WFO photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) retreatments of refractive error following previous laser refractive surgery with PRK, laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), or laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK). METHODS: We reviewed records of patients who underwent WFO PRK retreatments using the Allegretto Wave Eye-Q 400 Hz Excimer Laser System (Alcon Surgical) between January 2008 and April 2011 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Madigan Army Medical Center. Outcomes were recorded in terms of uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and complications at 1 month (M), 3 M, and 6 M post-op. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients (120 eyes) underwent WFO PRK retreatment during the study period. Primary surgery was surface ablation in 87 eyes (78 PRK, 9 LASEK) and LASIK in 33 eyes. The mean spherical equivalent before retreatment was -0.79 ± 0.94 D (-3.00 to 1.88 D). UDVA was ≥ 20/20 in 69 eyes (60.0 %) at 1 M, 54 eyes (71.1 %) at 3 M, and 27 eyes (73.0 %) at 6 M follow-up. MRSE was within ±0.50 D of emmetropia in 78 eyes (67.8 %) at 1 M, 59 eyes (77.6 %) at 3 M, and 25 eyes (67.6 %) at 6 M follow-up. CDVA was maintained within ±1 line of pre-op in 113 of 115 eyes (98.3 %) at 1 M, 74 of 76 eyes (97.4 %) at 3 M, and 37 eyes (100 %) at 6 M follow-up. CONCLUSION: Although follow-up was limited beyond 3 M, WFO PRK retreatments in patients with residual refractive error may be a safe and effective procedure. Further studies are necessary to determine the long-term safety and stability of outcomes.

Electronic monitoring to assess adherence with once-daily glaucoma medications and risk factors for nonadherence: the automated dosing reminder study.

IMPORTANCE: Adherence with topical glaucoma medications is low in some patients. To identify these patients, we need more information on risk factors for nonadherence. OBJECTIVE: To assess adherence with once-daily glaucoma medication. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Prospective cohort study involving patients who were recruited from a university-based glaucoma clinic and treated with once-daily prostaglandin eyedrops. Baseline characteristics were recorded, and each patient was provided a medication bottle to hold his or her eyedrop bottle throughout the study. An electronic cap recorded each time the larger bottle holding the eyedrops was opened. Participants were administered standardized tests of depression and mental status and answered questions about their health and their attitudes toward medication adherence. They used the electronic monitors for 3 months, during which their adherence with medications was assessed. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Adherence with daily glaucoma medication and factors associated with poor adherence. RESULTS: Of the 491 participants enrolled, 407 (82.9%) successfully completed the 3-month adherence assessment. Of this group, 337 (82.8%) took their medication correctly on at least 75% of days and were deemed adherent. Compared with this adherent group, the 70 participants (17.2%) who were nonadherent were slightly younger, were more likely to be of African descent, took medications for a shorter time, had a lower level of educational attainment, and had worse scores on mental status and depression scales (P < .05 for all). Nonadherent participants were less likely to be able to name their glaucoma medications, reported a lower estimate of adherence, and were more likely to admit some missed doses over the past 2 weeks or in general (P < .05 for all). Those who were nonadherent were also less likely to agree that remembering their eyedrops is easy, more likely to strongly agree with the statement that eyedrops can cause problems, and less likely to agree that they followed physicians' orders. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Electronic monitoring of patient adherence documented that a sizable number of patients with glaucoma do not take their medications as prescribed. Factors were identified that may prove useful in targeting those nonadherent patients for interventions.

Automated telecommunication-based reminders and adherence with once-daily glaucoma medication dosing: the automated dosing reminder study.

IMPORTANCE: Topical glaucoma medications lower intraocular pressure and alter the course of the disease. Because adherence with glaucoma medications is a known problem, interventions are needed to help those patients who do not take their medications as prescribed. OBJECTIVE: To assess the ability of an automated telecommunication-based intervention to improve adherence with glaucoma medications. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We performed a prospective cohort study of medication adherence, followed by a randomized intervention for those found to be nonadherent, of individuals recruited from a university-based glaucoma subspecialty clinic. A total of 491 participants were enrolled in the initial assessment of adherence. Of those, 70 were nonadherent with their medications after 3 months of electronic monitoring and randomized to intervention and control groups. INTERVENTIONS: A personal health record was used to store the list of patient medications and reminder preferences. On the basis of those data, participants randomized to the intervention received daily messages, either text or voice, reminding them to take their medication. Participants randomized to the control group received usual care. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Difference in adherence before and after initiation of the intervention. RESULTS: Using an intent-to-treat analysis, we found that the median adherence rate in the 38 participants randomized to the intervention increased from 53% to 64% (P < .05). There was no statistical change in 32 participants in the control group. To assess the real efficacy of the intervention, the same comparison was performed for the participants who successfully completed the study after randomization. Analyzed this way, the adherence rate in the 20 participants in the intervention group increased from 54% to 73% (P < .05), whereas there was again no statistical change in the 19 participants in the control group. Eighty-four percent of the participants who received reminders agreed they were helpful and would continue using them outside the study. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Automated telecommunication-based reminders linked to data in a personal health record improved adherence with once-daily glaucoma medications. This is an effective method to improve adherence that could realistically be implemented in ophthalmology practices with a minimum amount of effort on the part of the practice or the patient.

Pediatric PRK (PhotoRefractive Keratectomy) with Mitomycin C (MCC) for Persistent Anisometropic Amblyopia. A Case Report.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with Mitomycin C (MMC) for the treatment of severe pediatric anisometropia and amblyopia resistant to more conservative treatment modalities. METHODS: A 3 year-old-child, who at 18 months old underwent unilateral diode laser treatment for threshold ROP, developed 11 diopters of anisometropic myopia and secondary dense amblyopia of the Right Eye. Only after all conservative treatment options failed was he treated with PRK and MMC. Principal outcome measures included cycloplegic refraction, the amount of refractive correction, degree of corneal haze and change in visual acuity. RESULTS: On presentation: BCVA: 20/CF OD; 20/30 OS. CRNS: -11.50 diopters sphere OD; -0.50 diopters sphere OS. Unilateral PRK followed by application of MMC (0.2 mg/ml) for 1 min was performed under general anesthesia. Three-month postoperative findings include: VA: 20/30 OD; 20/25 OS. CRNS: +0.25 diopters sphere OD. At one year, the BCVA remained equal at the 20/30 level despite mild myopic regression OD. CRNS OD at one year was -1.25 +050 x 116. No corneal haze was appreciated. CONCLUSION: In this child, treatment with PRK and MMC safely reduced the anisometropia thus facilitating his visual rehabilitation. While encouraging, further study is required to verify the longer term results of this single case. PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with Mitomycin C (MMC) for the treatment of severe pediatric anisometropia and amblyopia resistant to more conservative treatment modalities. METHODS: A 3 year-old-child, who at 18 months old underwent unilateral diode laser treatment for threshold ROP, developed 11 diopters of anisometropic myopia and secondary dense amblyopia of the Right Eye. Only after all conservative treatment options failed was he treated with PRK and MMC. Principal outcome measures included cycloplegic refraction, the amount of refractive correction, degree of corneal haze and change in visual acuity. RESULTS: On presentation: BCVA: 20/CF OD; 20/30 OS. CRNS: -11.50 diopters sphere OD; -0.50 diopters sphere OS. Unilateral PRK followed by application of MMC (0.2 mg/ml) for 1 min was performed under general anesthesia. Three-month postoperative findings include: VA: 20/30 OD; 20/25 OS. CRNS: +0.25 diopters sphere OD. At one year, the BCVA remained equal at the 20/30 level despite mild myopic regression OD. CRNS OD at one year was -1.25 +050 x 116. No corneal haze was appreciated. CONCLUSION: In this child, treatment with PRK and MMC safely reduced the anisometropia thus facilitating his visual rehabilitation. While encouraging, further study is required to verify the longer term results of this single case.