The effect of health education on the rate of ophthalmic examinations among African Americans with diabetes mellitus

Objectives. This study evaluated a multicomponent educational intervention to increase ophthalmic examination rates among African Americans with diabe tes. Methods. A randomized trial was conducted with 280 African Americans with d iabetes, enrolled from outpatient departments of 5 medical centers in the N ew York City metropolitan areal who had not had a dilated retinal examinati on within 14 months of randomization (65.7% female, mean age = 54.7 years [ SD = 12.8 years]). Results. After site differences were controlled, the odds ratio for receivi ng a retinal examination associated with the intervention was 4.3 (95% conf idence interval = 2.4, 7.8). The examination rate pooled across sites was 5 4.7% in the intervention group and 27.3% in the control group. Conclusions. The intervention was associated with a rate of ophthalmic exam ination double the rate achieved with routine medical care.