| Title: |
Comparing community-based monitoring to hospital-based care of patients with quiescent age-related macular degeneration: a qualitative study of patient and practitioner perspectives on acceptability and access |
| Authors: |
Vougioukalou, Sofia; Read, Simon M.; Csontos, Judit Katalin; Jones, Aled; Jaber, Alijazy; Sharma, Anitta; Balaskas, Konstantinos |
| Publisher Information: |
BMJ Publishing Group |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Collection: |
Cardiff University: ORCA (Online Research @ Cardiff) |
| Description: |
Objectives This process evaluation explores patient and healthcare professional acceptability of community-based monitoring versus hospital-based care for patients with quiescent neovascular age-related macular degeneration (QnAMD).Design Qualitative process evaluation was conducted as part of a randomised controlled trial.Setting Six hospitals and six community-based practices.Participants 25 patients and 16 healthcare professionals (ophthalmologists and optometrists). This approach helped differentiate between common issues and those specific to community-based monitoring.Intervention The Quality-Assured Follow-Up of QnAMD by non-medical practitioners trial aimed to examine whether non-medical practitioners follow-up patients with QnAMD in the community in a safe and clinically and cost-effective way. The process evaluation aimed to examine whether the intervention was acceptable by patients and professionals. The process evaluation was based on interviews which contained open-ended questions focused on patient experience and confidence in community-based care, issues concerning the practicalities of the organisation and management of the clinic, and resources including IT and digital equipment. The theory of acceptability framework was used to interpret the findings.Results Patients reported positively on the experience of receiving QnAMD services in the community and highlighted staff professionalism and clear communication. Key themes were the proximity of care provision for patients, IT interoperability and the real-world costs of running the service. Some patients randomised to the hospital showed preference for the intervention to take place in the hospital, mediated mainly by prior experience of hospital care and travel distance. The location of the clinic and transport routes affected the experience of attending appointments, with strong preference expressed for proximity to one’s home. Inaccessibility due to non-modifiable internal building structures in the community and parking in hospital eye ... |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/184435/1/e101379.full.pdf; Vougioukalou, Sofia https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/view/cardiffauthors/A1926872W.html orcid:0000-0003-0788-0373 orcid:0000-0003-0788-0373, Read, Simon M., Csontos, Judit Katalin https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/view/cardiffauthors/A1792812O.html orcid:0000-0003-4597-3052 orcid:0000-0003-4597-3052, Jones, Aled, Jaber, Alijazy, Sharma, Anitta and Balaskas, Konstantinos 2026. Comparing community-based monitoring to hospital-based care of patients with quiescent age-related macular degeneration: a qualitative study of patient and practitioner perspectives on acceptability and access. BMJ Open 16 , e101379. 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101379 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101379 file https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/184435/1/e101379.full.pdf |
| DOI: |
10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101379 |
| Availability: |
https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/184435/; https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101379; https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/184435/1/e101379.full.pdf |
| Rights: |
cc_by_4_0 |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.57301D2C |
| Database: |
BASE |