Belfast is one of RNIB's five Community Engagement Projects (CEPs). Each of our five CEP sites is piloting a range of evidence-based eye health interventions to understand how effective they are at increasing service uptake and treatment concordance.
Target population: white, low income, aged 40 to 65, resident in the Falls, Clonard, Whiterock and Upper Springfield areas
Target eye condition: glaucoma
Establishing an evidence base
RNIB commissioned several pieces of research to inform the development of interventions to be piloted in the CEPs:
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Equity profiles - local public health specialists conducted a systematic review of data in the five CEP sites to explore the population characteristics, service provision, patterns of use and outcomes among the target populations. Read the Belfast equity profile.
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Evidence review - De Montfort University conducted a review examining evidence of the effectiveness of intervention strategies to address inequalities in eye health care, relating particularly to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Read the evidence review.
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Qualitative research - conducted with commissioners, frontline eye health professionals, local communities and service users in the five CEP sites to explore awareness, experiences and views on accessing primary and secondary eye care services. Read the research into the barriers and enablers that affect access to primary and secondary eye care services.
Objectives
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Increase uptake of eye examinations.
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Increase knowledge and understanding of eye health and entitlements to care
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Improve compliance with glaucoma treatment.
Pilot intervention
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Community health campaign about the importance of eye examinations.
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Community support for people with glaucoma and their families.
Evaluation
Now that the interventions in the five CEP sites have been designed they will be piloted for 18-20 months between 2012 and 2014.
RNIB has appointed the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions across the five CEP sites.
For more information about the Belfast CEP email professionals@rnib.org.uk.