Implementation of a nurse-delivered intravitreal injection service

Eye (Lond). 2014 Jun;28(6):734-40. doi: 10.1038/eye.2014.69. Epub 2014 Apr 4.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to introduce nurse-delivered intravitreal injections to increase medical retina treatment capacity.

Methods: Indemnity, clinical governance, training, planning, and implementation issues were addressed. The outcome measures were patient safety, patient experience, and clinic capacity.

Results: No serious vision-threatening complications were recorded in a consecutive series of 4000 nurse-delivered intravitreal injections. A Mann-Whitney test showed a significant increase in intravitreal injections (P=0.003) in the medical retina service after introduction of nurse-delivered intravitreal injections. The majority of patients accepted and were satisfied with a nurse-delivered intravitreal injection.

Discussion: Nurse-delivered intravitreal injections appear safe, acceptable to patients, and are an effective means to increase intravitreal injection capacity in medical retina clinics.

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Continuity of Patient Care
  • Education, Nursing
  • Health Plan Implementation / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Intravitreal Injections*
  • National Health Programs / organization & administration*
  • Nurse Practitioners*
  • Patient Satisfaction / statistics & numerical data
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United Kingdom
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Wet Macular Degeneration / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A