199487 Geographic distribution of eye-care providers and use of eye-care services among adults with diabetes

Monday, November 9, 2009: 2:45 PM

Chiu-Fang Chou, Dr PH , The Vision Health Initiative, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/The Ginn Group, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Atlanta, GA
Xinzhi Zhang, MD, PhD , Vision Health Initiative, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
John E. Crews, DPA , National Center on Birth Defects & Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Jinan B. Saaddine , National Vision Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
  
Objective: To examine the impact of eye-care provider workforce on the receipt of yearly dilated eye examination among adults with diabetes.

Method: Data from the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were linked to 2007 Area Resource File to examine the association between number of eye-care providers (ophthalmologist and optometrist) per 100,000 population per county and use of preventive eye-care services (i.e., having dilated eye examinations in the past year). Our sample included adults aged 18 years or older with diabetes (N=29,495) in 2006. Multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to estimate adjusted odds ratios of yearly dilated eye examination controlling for age, gender, marital status, education, and health insurance.

Results: Approximately 25% of the respondents with diabetes lived in counties with less than one eye-care provider per 100,000 population. 69.4% of these counties were located in non-metropolitan areas. 94.5% of counties with 20+ eye-care providers per 100,000 population were within metropolitan areas. After controlling for covariates, people with diabetes in counties with less than one eye-care provider per 100,000 population (OR=0.76; 95%CI=0.62-0.94) and those with 1-9 eye-care providers per 100,000 population (OR=0.84; 95%CI=0.71-0.99) were less likely to report having a dilated eye examination in the past year compared with those with 20 or more eye-care providers per 100,000 population.

Conclusion: A fewer number of eye-care providers in a county of residence may influence the receipt of yearly dilated eye examination among adults with diabetes. Addressing the geographic distribution of eye-care providers could help improve vision health among people with diabetes.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the geographic distribution of eye care providers where people with diabetes live. 2.Describe the effect of eye-care provider workforce on the use of eye care services.

Keywords: Vision Care, Access

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract Author on the content I am responsible for because I have experience in studying physician workforce research as well as delivering presentation at professional meetings. I have obtained my doctoral degree in Public Health in Health Policy and Administration. My research areas are health services research, health workforce, health outcome, population health, and health disparities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Setting the Stage for Multi-disciplinary Diabetes Care: Obstacles and Opportunities (jointly organized by the Vision Care, Oral Health and Podiatric Health sections)
See more of: Vision Care Section