Community Support + Text Reminders for Eye Disease
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial explores the best way to help people attend their eye hospital appointments after being advised they need further care. It tests three methods: sending text message reminders, having health workers provide reminders (Community Health Volunteer Visit), and providing no reminders. The main aim is to determine which approach encourages more people to visit the eye hospital within 21 days of their initial screening. Individuals who participated in the VIEW II study and were referred to the eye hospital may be suitable for this trial, provided they live in an area with reliable mobile service. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance appointment adherence strategies for eye care.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.
What prior data suggests that these methods are safe for improving linkage-to-care?
Research has shown that text message reminders and visits from community health volunteers are safe and well-received methods to keep people engaged with their healthcare.
Studies on text message reminders indicate their frequent use in healthcare to help people remember appointments and follow medical advice. No reports of negative effects from receiving these messages exist, making them a common and safe tool in healthcare.
Visits from community health volunteers are also considered safe. Programs where volunteers support eye care have demonstrated good results in communities. These volunteers help identify issues early and encourage necessary treatment, with no known risks.
Both methods aim to support and remind people about their healthcare needs without causing harm.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores innovative ways to support eye health through community involvement and technology. Unlike traditional treatments that focus solely on medical or surgical interventions, this approach leverages community health volunteers and text message reminders to enhance patient engagement and adherence to care. The use of technology to provide timely reminders could help patients manage their eye disease more effectively, potentially improving outcomes by ensuring they follow treatment plans consistently. This trial could pave the way for a more holistic and accessible model of care that empowers patients and communities to take an active role in eye health management.
What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving linkage-to-care for eye disease?
Research has shown that community health volunteers, one of the interventions in this trial, improve access to eye care. These volunteers provide eye-care services locally and successfully raise awareness about eye health while encouraging follow-up care. Studies have found that involving these workers in eye care can save eyesight by overcoming treatment barriers.
Text message reminders, another intervention in this trial, have shown mixed results. Some studies suggest they aren't very effective at increasing attendance for eye screenings, but others find they help keep people engaged with their eye care, especially if they miss an appointment. These reminders might also assist parents in managing their children's eye health.26789Who Is on the Research Team?
Jeremy Keenan, MD, MPH
Principal Investigator
University of California, San Francisco
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for individuals who were referred to an eye hospital after being screened for eye diseases like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, or age-related macular degeneration in the VIEW II trial. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention
Participants are randomized to receive either text message reminders, reminders from community health workers, or no intervention to enhance linkage-to-care
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for attendance at the referral visit to the eye hospital
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Community Health Volunteer Visit
- Text Message Reminder
Trial Overview
The study tests if text message reminders or follow-ups by community health workers can help people visit the eye hospital after they've been referred due to potential eye disease. It's a randomized trial with three groups: one gets texts, another gets personal reminders, and the last group doesn't get any extra help.
How Is the Trial Designed?
3
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of California, San Francisco
Lead Sponsor
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Collaborator
Bharatpur Eye Hospital
Collaborator
Seva Foundation
Collaborator
Published Research Related to This Trial
Citations
Effectiveness of community-based eye care: process and ...
In the past three decades, there have been multiple examples of involving community-based health workers and volunteers in the delivery of eye-care ...
Systematic Review of Community-Engaged Research in ...
In European studies, social deprivation has been associated with decreased screening uptake in diabetic retinopathy and an increase in sight-threatening ...
The Power of Ophthalmology in Community Health
Their eyesight was saved through community-based ophthalmology programs offered at health centers deep in rural areas or urban neighborhoods.
Community Outreach Vision Screenings with Student-led Eye ...
They conducted structured patient interviews including ophthalmic and systemic health history, burden of eye disease, and barriers to eye care.
Community-based vision health screening with on-site ...
Over half (2214) of the 4349 participants had refractive error. Prominent sight threatening eye diseases identified in participants included 390 (9%) glaucoma ...
The impact of having a free community eye clinic located ...
The Kansas City Free Eye Clinic is located inside a homeless shelter and, therefore, provides a convenient location for homeless and low-income individuals to ...
A comparison of pediatric and adult ocular diseases in the ...
Among the pediatric-onset eye diseases, ROP showed the highest odds of developing a more severe disease when lacking transportation (aOR: 2.54, ...
Stakeholder Perspectives on Enhancing Eye Health ...
Training village health volunteers in basic eye disease screening is a key strategy that will enhance early detection and support community- ...
The Relationship between Unstable Housing, Food ...
Housing and food insecurity are social risk factors that can impact eye health outcomes. This study investigated the association of these social ...
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