Facilitated Versus Self-guided Training of Non-ophthalmologists for Grading Pre-plus and Plus Disease Using Fundus Images for Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening.
PURPOSE: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an important cause of preventable blindness; barriers to screening necessitate novel approaches. Although trained non-ophthalmologists can accurately grade retinal images for ROP, effective training protocols are not established. This study compares the effectiveness of facilitated versus self-guided training of non-ophthalmologists for grading retinal images for pre-plus or plus disease in ROP. METHODS: Forty-eight undergraduate and graduate students were trained to grade retinal images for the presence of pre-plus or plus disease. Students were randomly assigned to one of two training protocols. Both used identical electronic slideshows: one was guided by an in-person facilitator and the other was self-guided. After completing their respective training, students proficient in grading pre-plus and plus disease graded images in a telemedicine screening scenario. Accuracy of grading was compared to the reference standard of clinical examination. RESULTS: Eighty-three percent (40 of 48) of trained students (91% in the facilitated vs 77% in the self-guided group, P = .26) were proficient and qualified to grade the ROP telemedicine screening scenario. Median accuracy for grading normal, pre-plus, or plus disease was 69% (70% in the facilitated vs 68% in the self-guided group, P = .91). When considering the designation of pre-plus or plus disease by graders as a screening test for detecting plus disease (confirmed on clinical examination), the median sensitivity and specificity of all students were 95% and 64%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both facilitated and self-guided teaching protocols yielded similar performance in ROP image grading for pre-plus or plus disease. Self-guided training protocols may be adequate to train non-ophthalmologists to grade retinal images for pre-plus and plus disease with high sensitivity. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2016;53(3):179-185.].
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Related Subject Headings
- Telemedicine
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Retinopathy of Prematurity
- Retinal Vessels
- Reproducibility of Results
- Prospective Studies
- Ophthalmology & Optometry
- Ophthalmology
- Infant, Premature
- Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Telemedicine
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Retinopathy of Prematurity
- Retinal Vessels
- Reproducibility of Results
- Prospective Studies
- Ophthalmology & Optometry
- Ophthalmology
- Infant, Premature
- Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted