City Research Online

Design and use of vignettes to investigate referral decision-making by optometrists

Parkins, D. J., Shah, B., Benwell, M. J. , Evans, B. J. W. & Edgar, D. F ORCID: 0000-0001-9004-264X (2021). Design and use of vignettes to investigate referral decision-making by optometrists. Journal of Optometry, 14(4), pp. 346-354. doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2020.09.004

Abstract

Purpose
This study describes the design and application of a range of online clinical vignettes for measuring the impact of Continuing Education and Training (CET) and identifying unwarranted variation in optometric decision-making concerning referrals to secondary care.

Methods
Twenty computerised vignettes were developed to assess clinical and referral management decisions taken in primary care optometry. The online system was specifically designed to present vignettes (ten pre-CET and ten post-CET) that avoided prompting correct answers. The main study group was qualified optometrists (N = 31) who chose any CET options available to United Kingdom optometrists over six months. Participants submitted a record of the CET undertaken, which was compared with an anonymised General Optical Council (GOC) reference sample. The vignettes were also completed by newly-qualified (N = 18) and pre-registration (N = 11) groups.

Results
CET had no significant correlation (p = 0.37) with improvement in optometric clinical decision-making and referral practice (qualified group). Selection bias affected this group who had more CET points (p = 0.008) and peer discussion points (p = 0.003) than the GOC reference sample. Results were indicative due to small sample sizes. Newly-qualified practitioners were significantly more likely to refer than the qualified group (p = 0.004). Number of referrals decreased with time since qualification (p = 0.006).

Conclusion
Computerised vignettes are a useful tool for comparing referral decisions between groups. Recruiting clinicians for time-consuming vignette studies is challenging. Strategies to reduce unwarranted variation in optometry, including support for newly-qualified optometrists, require further investigation.

Publication Type: Article
Additional Information: © 2020 Spanish General Council of Optometry. Published by Elsevier Espa ̃na, S.L.U. This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Publisher Keywords: Clinical decision-making, Optometry, Referral, Vignette
Subjects: R Medicine > RE Ophthalmology
Departments: School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Psychology
SWORD Depositor:
[thumbnail of Design and use of vignettes to investigate referral decision-making by optometrists.pdf]
Preview
Text - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

Download (699kB) | Preview

Export

Add to AnyAdd to TwitterAdd to FacebookAdd to LinkedinAdd to PinterestAdd to Email

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics

Actions (login required)

Admin Login Admin Login