Purpose: To evaluate the problems, and the degree of acceptability and satisfaction among participants in a telemedicine screening program. This study forms part of a global project for the design, implementation and evaluation of SisGlaTel funded by the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (Spain) and Pfizer Ophthalmics.
Method: A telemedicine system was built based on a specific program written in JAVA. The remote station was located at a Primary Care Center. Participants signed an informed consent, and completed a questionnaire and undertook different tests (frequency doubling perimetry-FDT, confocal scanning laser tomografy-HRT and tonometry). Test results and problems detected were analysed. Ninety-nine subjects completed a satisfaction questionnaire after voluntarily participating in the screening program among an at-risk population. The questionnaire included 7 questions, four of which required participants to categorise their responses, ranging from very bad (1) to excellent (5), to questions about the screening program, its usefulness, the care received and the installations.
Results: Six hundred and forty-one at-risk subjects were examined. After 2 exams per eye, 22.3% (143) presented abnormal FDT and 4.2% (27) had pathologic HRT. One hundred percent of respondents affirmed they would participate again in a similar program. The mean qualification (SD) was 4.5 (0.6), 4.5 (0.6), 4.8 (0.5), and 4.3 (0.7) for global opinion, usefulness, care and equipment.
Conclusion: SisGlaTel allows integration of several diagnostic tests useful for glaucoma tele-screening. The global degree of satisfaction among participants was good.