JungHye Sung, MPH, ScD¹, Peter J. Fos, DDS, PhD, MPH², Brian W. Amy, MD, MPH, Won Jae Lee, PhD⁴, and Jae Eun Lee, DrPH⁵. (1) Office of Science and Evaluation, Mississippi State Department of Health, 570 East Woodrow Wilson, Jackson, MS 39215, 576-8083, junghyelee@msdh.state.ms.us, (2) Dean and Professor , College of Health, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Dr., #10075, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001, (3) Dept. of Health Care Management, Kyungwon University, San 65 Bokjung-Dong, Sujung-Gu, Sungnam, South Korea, (4) Office of Decision Science, Mississippi State Department of Health, 570 East Woodrow Wilson, P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the ophthalmologist manpower and the prevalence rate of diabetic retinopathy in Mississippi. We conducted an ecologic study design that counties were the unit of analysis for this study. Data on the diabetes and the diabetic retinopathy prevalence stratified by race were obtained from the Mississippi Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (MS-BRFSS) and Prevent Blindness America and National Eye Institute, respectively. The multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between the ophthalmologist manpower and the prevalence rate of diabetic retinopathy, after controlling for other county-level characteristics. Diabetic retinopathy affects 2.52% Mississippian aged 18 and older: white 2.66% and African-American 2.31%. The multiple linear regressions revealed that there was significant relationship between the ophthalmologist manpower and the prevalence rate of diabetic retinopathy, after controlling for county-level socio-demographic variables ( p<0.01). For each increase in ophthalmologist manpower of 1 doctor per 1,000 diabetic retinopathy patients, there was a corresponding decrease in the prevalence rate of 1.3 cases per 1,000 adult population. This relationship was consistent among African American (p<0.05) but not among white population ( p=0.11). Policy makers must build strategic planning to increase ophthalmologic manpower for the reduction of prevalence of diabetic retinopathy.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Discuss the ecologic study in public health research.
• 2. Identify the relationship between manpower and health.
• 3. Discuss the impact of manpower planning on improving public health.

Keywords: Public Health Administration, Diabetes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Mississippi State Department of Health
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.