DETECT: DEveloping and testing a model to identify preventive vision loss among older paTients in gEneral praCTice - protocol for a complex intervention in Denmark

IntroductionThe number of people living with visual impairment is increasing. Visual impairment causes loss in quality of life and reduce self-care abilities. The burden of disease is heavy for people experiencing visual impairment and their relatives. The severity and progression of age-related eye diseases are dependent on the time of detection and treatment options, making timely access to healthcare critical in reducing visual impairment. General practice plays a key role in public health by managing preventive healthcare, diagnostics and treatment of chronic conditions. General practitioners (GPs) coordinate services from other healthcare professionals. More involvement of the primary sector could potentially be valuable in detecting visual impairment.MethodsWe apply the Medical Research Council framework for complex interventions to develop a primary care intervention with the GP as a key actor, aimed at identifying and coordinating care for patients with low vision. The development process will engage patients, relatives and relevant health professional stakeholders. We will pilot test the feasibility of the intervention in a real-world general practice setting. The intervention model will be developed through a participatory approach using qualitative and creative methods such as graphical facilitation. We aim to explore the potentials and limitations of general practice in relation to detection of preventable vision loss.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval is obtained from local authority and the study meets the requirements from the Declaration of Helsinki. Dissemination is undertaken through research papers and to the broader public through podcasts and patient organisations.

Automated summary

This article introduces the increasing number of people with visual impairment and its impact on quality of life, highlighting the importance of timely access to healthcare. The author plans to develop a primary care intervention with the GP as a key actor in general practice, using a participatory approach and qualitative methods. The study aims to explore the potential and limitations of general practice in detecting preventable vision loss.