Efficient capture of high-quality real-world data on treatments for glaucoma: the Fight Glaucoma Blindness! Registry

Abstract

ObjectiveTo describe the development and implementation of a web-based high-quality data collection tool to track the outcomes of glaucoma treatments in routine practice.Methods and analysisThis is a prospective observational registry study. An international steering committee undertook an iterative structured process to define a minimum, patient-centred data set designed to track outcomes of glaucoma treatment. The outcomes were coded into a web-based programme allowing easy access for rapid data entry. Clinicians receive personal reports enabling instant audit of their outcomes. Analyses of aggregated anonymised data on real-world outcomes are analysed and periodically reported with the goal of improving patient care.ResultsThe minimum data set developed by the international steering committee includes the following: a baseline visit captures 13 mandatory fields in order to accurately phenotype each patient’s subtype of glaucoma and to allow comparison between services, and a follow-up visit includes only four mandatory fields to allow completion within 30 s.Currently, there are 157 surgeons in 158 ophthalmology practices across Australia and New Zealand who are registered. These surgeons are tracking 5570 eyes of 3001 patients and have recorded 67 074 visits. The median number of eyes per surgeon is 22 eyes with a range of 1–575. The most common glaucoma procedure, excluding cataract surgery, is iStent inject, with 2316 cases.ConclusionThis software tool effectively facilitates data collection on safety and efficacy outcomes of treatments for different subgroups of glaucoma within a real-world setting. It provides a template to evaluate new treatments as they are introduced into practice.