{"title":"Factors associated with pediatric ophthalmology follow-up adherence before and during the COVID-19 pandemic","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jaapos.2024.103963","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Studies describe poor follow-up among children in ophthalmology prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the pandemic led to worse adherence for routine medical care in children, little information exists on pediatric ophthalmology follow-up adherence during COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on follow-up adherence for children with eye disease, and identified characteristics associated with follow-up adherence.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>In this single-center study, the medical records of 519 new pediatric (≤18 years of age) patients seen during January, April, August, and December 2019 and 2021 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were classified into two groups: adherent (patients who followed up within 30 days of recommended appointment time) or less-adherent (patients who followed up >30 days after recommended follow-up or never). Main outcome measure was patient adherence status.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Follow-up adherence was similar before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (50.4% for 2019 and 49.6% for 2021 [<em>P</em> = 0.40]). Patients that were less likely to be adherent in both univariate and multivariable analyses included those with public insurance (adjusted OR = 0.63 [95% CI, 0.40-1.00]; <em>P</em> = 0.05), and those recommended to follow-up ≥3 months (adjusted OR ≤ 0.10; <em>P</em> < 0.001). In addition, in univariate analysis, those who declined to self-report race (OR = 0.53 [95% CI, 0.29-0.95]; <em>P</em> = 0.04) and those seen by optometrists (OR = 0.42 [95% CI, 0.29-0.60]; <em>P</em> < 0.001) were less likely to be adherent, while patients who traveled ≥177 miles to their provider were more likely to be adherent (OR = 2.88 [95% CI, 1.17-7.55]; <em>P</em> = 0.02).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Follow-up adherence for childhood eye care was low but remained relatively stable before and during the COVID-19 pandemic; >50% of children were less-adherent.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":50261,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Aapos","volume":"28 4","pages":"Article 103963"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S109185312400243X/pdfft?md5=a438b23d08d0c139f0cbf7d2943876c0&pid=1-s2.0-S109185312400243X-main.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Aapos","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S109185312400243X","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"OPHTHALMOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Studies describe poor follow-up among children in ophthalmology prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the pandemic led to worse adherence for routine medical care in children, little information exists on pediatric ophthalmology follow-up adherence during COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on follow-up adherence for children with eye disease, and identified characteristics associated with follow-up adherence.
Methods
In this single-center study, the medical records of 519 new pediatric (≤18 years of age) patients seen during January, April, August, and December 2019 and 2021 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were classified into two groups: adherent (patients who followed up within 30 days of recommended appointment time) or less-adherent (patients who followed up >30 days after recommended follow-up or never). Main outcome measure was patient adherence status.
Results
Follow-up adherence was similar before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (50.4% for 2019 and 49.6% for 2021 [P = 0.40]). Patients that were less likely to be adherent in both univariate and multivariable analyses included those with public insurance (adjusted OR = 0.63 [95% CI, 0.40-1.00]; P = 0.05), and those recommended to follow-up ≥3 months (adjusted OR ≤ 0.10; P < 0.001). In addition, in univariate analysis, those who declined to self-report race (OR = 0.53 [95% CI, 0.29-0.95]; P = 0.04) and those seen by optometrists (OR = 0.42 [95% CI, 0.29-0.60]; P < 0.001) were less likely to be adherent, while patients who traveled ≥177 miles to their provider were more likely to be adherent (OR = 2.88 [95% CI, 1.17-7.55]; P = 0.02).
Conclusions
Follow-up adherence for childhood eye care was low but remained relatively stable before and during the COVID-19 pandemic; >50% of children were less-adherent.
期刊介绍:
Journal of AAPOS presents expert information on children''s eye diseases and on strabismus as it affects all age groups. Major articles by leading experts in the field cover clinical and investigative studies, treatments, case reports, surgical techniques, descriptions of instrumentation, current concept reviews, and new diagnostic techniques. The Journal is the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.