TY - JOUR
T1 - Non-Physician delivered intravitreal injection service is feasible and safe - A systematic review
AU - Rasul, Asrin
AU - Subhi, Yousif
AU - Sørensen, Torben Lykke
AU - Munch, Inger Christine
PY - 2016/5
Y1 - 2016/5
N2 - Introduction: Non-physicians such as nurses are trained to give injections into the vitreous body of the eye to meet the increasing demand for intravitreal therapy with vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors against common eye diseases, e.g. age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. We systematically reviewed the existing literature to provide an overview of the experiences in this transformational process. Methods: We searched for literature on 22 September 2015 using PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL and the Web of Science. Eligible studies had to address any outcome based on non-physician delivered intravitreal therapy regardless of the study design. Being non-physician was defined as the injecting personnel n ot being a physician, but no further restrictions were made. Results: Five studies were included with a total of 31,303 injections having been performed by 16 nurses. The studies found that having nurses perform the intravitreal injections produced to a short-term capacity improvement and liberated physicians for other clinical work. Training was provided through courses and direct supervision. The rates of endophthalmitis were 0-0.40‰, which is comparable to reported rates when the intravitreal therapy is given by physicians. Conclusion: Non-physician delivered intravitreal therapy seems feasible and safe.
AB - Introduction: Non-physicians such as nurses are trained to give injections into the vitreous body of the eye to meet the increasing demand for intravitreal therapy with vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors against common eye diseases, e.g. age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. We systematically reviewed the existing literature to provide an overview of the experiences in this transformational process. Methods: We searched for literature on 22 September 2015 using PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL and the Web of Science. Eligible studies had to address any outcome based on non-physician delivered intravitreal therapy regardless of the study design. Being non-physician was defined as the injecting personnel n ot being a physician, but no further restrictions were made. Results: Five studies were included with a total of 31,303 injections having been performed by 16 nurses. The studies found that having nurses perform the intravitreal injections produced to a short-term capacity improvement and liberated physicians for other clinical work. Training was provided through courses and direct supervision. The rates of endophthalmitis were 0-0.40‰, which is comparable to reported rates when the intravitreal therapy is given by physicians. Conclusion: Non-physician delivered intravitreal therapy seems feasible and safe.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84964867675&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Review
C2 - 27127016
AN - SCOPUS:84964867675
SN - 2245-1919
VL - 63
JO - Danish medical journal
JF - Danish medical journal
IS - 5
M1 - A5229
ER -