Assessing patient acceptance of virtual clinics for diabetic retinopathy: a large scale postal survey.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the views of patients with diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy on their acceptance of virtual clinic review in place of face-to-face clinic appointments.

METHODS

A postal survey was mailed to all 813 patients under the care of the diabetic eye clinic at Singleton Hospital with 7 questions, explanatory information, and a stamped, addressed envelope available for returning completed questionnaires.

RESULTS

Four hundred and ninety-eight questionnaires were returned indicating that 86.1% were supportive of the idea of virtual clinics, although only 56.9% were prepared for every visit to be virtual. Of respondents, 6.6% not happy to attend any virtual clinic.

CONCLUSION

This is by far the largest survey of patients' attitudes regarding attending virtual clinics and confirms that the vast majority are supportive of this mode of health care delivery.