A one-month demographic analysis of ophthalmic referrals to the emergency ophthalmic service at Mater Dei Hospital, Malta

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Prompt recognition and referral of patients with ophthalmic emergencies are essential for preserving vision. For this reason, importance should be given to researching how the ophthalmic emergency services are utilized in Malta in order to facilitate improvements.

OBJECTIVE: This demographic study, conducted over 32 days at Mater Dei Hospital in Malta, aimed to explore the characteristics of patients referred to the ophthalmic emergency department, including patient demographics, referral sources and reasons for referral, providing insights into the utilization of emergency services.

METHOD: This retrospective demographic study was carried out over the span of one month (from December 2023 to January 2024). Patient referral data was gathered from emergency department triage sheets, followed by the collection of demographic data (including gender, age, place of habitation, ethnicity, source of referral, presenting complaint and necessity for further ophthalmic review) from the Clinical Patient Administration System for all Ophthalmic Emergency 福利在线免费 attendees.

RESULTS: Findings revealed gender disparities, age-related trends, regional distribution and the significance of self-referrals. Notably, 18% of cases required further ophthalmic review, emphasizing the complexity of ocular conditions.

CONCLUSION: This study offered valuable insights into the different characteristics of patients accessing the Maltese Ophthalmic Emergency Service at Mater Dei Hospital. It underscored the significant number of patients utilizing this service and revealed demographic trends and referral sources. By acknowledging these trends, it should become possible to allocate resources more effectively and target interventions to meet the diverse needs of the community. While acknowledging its limitations, the aims and objectives of this study were achieved.