Bradford pilot interventions

Bradford 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: Pakistani, aged 40 to 65 with diabetes, resident in Bradford and Keighley

Target eye condition: diabetic retinopathy

Establishing an evidence base

RNIB commissioned several pieces of research to inform the development of interventions to be piloted in the CEPs:

1. 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 Bradford equity profile.
2. 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.
3. 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.

CEP objectives

1. Increase uptake of diabetic retinopathy screening.
2. Increase attendance at secondary care (diabetic retinopathy clinic).
3. Increase uptake of eye examinations.
4. Increase understanding of eye health and its relationship to diabetes.

Pilot intervention

1. Reminder invites, sent via text message, for diabetic retinopathy screenings.
2. Targeted telephone reminders conducted by a bilingual worker for diabetic retinopathy secondary care appointments.
3. Health professionals providing key messages to people with diabetes, supported by a community education campaign.
4. Implementation of a self-care tool for people with diabetes.

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 Bradford CEP email professionals@rnib.org.uk.