Evaluation of the medical technologist and DART system as the first filter in the detection of diabetic retinopathy in the teleophthalmology strategy at UAPO Cerro Navia in September 2022.

Abstract

The Automated Diagnosis of Telematic Retinographs (DART) is used as the first filter in the diabetic retinopathy screening programme. Medical technologists specialising in ophthalmology and optometry are trained to detect alterations in the eyeball and visual dysfunctions, in order to refer patients in a timely manner when appropriate. Objective: To evaluate the results obtained by medical technologists with undergraduate knowledge in the classification of retinographs and the DART system, as the first filter in the detection of diabetic retinopathy. Methodology: Quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional and prospective study with a descriptive-comparative design. Patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus for at least 5 years and type 2 diabetes mellitus who underwent fundus examinations in September 2022 at primary ophthalmic care units were evaluated. Results: Retinographs of 346 eyes from 173 patients were evaluated. The average turnaround time for results was 1.3 days for medical technologists specialising in ophthalmology and optometry and 1.4 days for DART. The sensitivity of medical technologists specialising in ophthalmology and optometry was 98.1% and the specificity was 99.3%. DART showed a sensitivity of 40.8% with a specificity of 89.9%. Conclusion: Medical technologists specialising in ophthalmology and optometry as the first filter in the screening of diabetic retinopathy provide greater accuracy in a similar amount of time, resulting in a more efficient process and increasing the opportunity for referrals that are necessary for appropriate treatment.