Evaluation of a new self-administered visual field screening tool
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development and evaluation of a self-administered/assisted visual field screening tool for glaucoma
IRAS ID
150847
Contact name
Emmanouil Tsamis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Research summary
This study aims to evaluate a self-administered screening test for glaucoma, the second largest cause of blindness in the UK. New approaches to glaucoma screening are needed because a significant number of patients present to NHS hospitals for the first time with advanced-stage glaucoma and late presentation is associated with a much higher risk for future blindness. There is a general trend towards self-monitoring of health status that is expected to increase in the near future. From heart rate and blood pressure measurement to the assessment of glucose or alcohol levels in blood, more and more patients use self-administered devices to check their health status. The purpose of this study is to develop a new computer-based visual field test for glaucoma inspection. The project will be separated into 2 stages: a) the identification of those features that make a health self-test friendlier to the patient and b) the development of the new visual field test and its clinical evaluation. During the first stage patients with no or little experience in visual field testing will be recruited on a series of usability trials. These patients will try the currently available online visual field tests and, through the completion of well-structured questionnaires, will help the study identify characteristics that make a computer-based health self-test pleasant for its users. The second stage involves the development of the final screening test and its evaluation in both hospital- and community-based trials. At first, patients attending Manchester’s Royal Eye Hospital will be recruited to trial the new test and help establishing its performance. Given that this performance is at acceptable values, already recruited patients will be encouraged to promote the tests to their relatives and friends. The latest will help the study establish the benefits and costs of this test in a community setting.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NW/1217
Date of REC Opinion
12 Sep 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion