Five regions, five retinopathy screening programmes: a systematic review of how Portugal addresses the challenge.

Journal: BMC health services research
Published Date:

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The implementation of a population-based screening programme for diabetic retinopathy involves several challenges, often leading to postponements and setbacks at high human and material costs. Thus, it is of the utmost importance to promote the sharing of experiences, successes, and difficulties. However, factors such as the existence of regional programmes, specificities of each country's health systems, organisational and even linguistic barriers, make it difficult to create a solid framework that can be used as a basis for future projects.

Authors

  • Andreia Marisa Penso Pereira
    Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), ISTAR-IUL, Av. das Forças Armadas, 1649-026, Lisbon, Portugal. andreia_marisa_pereira@iscte-iul.pt.
  • Raul Manuel da Silva Laureano
    Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Business Research Unit (BRU-IUL) and ISTAR-IUL, Av. das Forças Armadas, 1649-026, Lisbon, Portugal. raul.laureano@iscte-iul.pt.
  • Fernando Buarque de Lima Neto
    Escola Politécnica, Computer Engineering (POLI/PPG-EC), Universidade de Pernambuco (UPE), Rua Benfica, 455 - Bloco 'C', Recife, 50720-001, Brazil.