Participants needed: Cataract BOOST Global Research Project

Are you a practicing ophthalmologist cataract surgeon interested in improving cataract surgical outcomes?

A global consortium of leading eye health organisations is looking for surgeons to help test a new app to help improve cataract surgical outcomes, especially those working in low-resource settings. BOOST (Better Operative Outcomes Software Tool) is a free Android and online app that allows surgeons to easily capture key cataract outcome data. It provides simple, engaging reports and provides feedback to users about how they can improve their performance.

To take part, please email [email protected]. The deadline for enrolment has been extended to 30 December 2019.

How does BOOST work?

Once downloaded, BOOST works offline and helps to address the challenge of inadequate patient attendance at follow-up appointments by measuring and assessing surgical quality at discharge. https://www.cehjournal.org/article/improving-the-practice-of-cataract-surgical-outcome-measurement/

Participating centres will receive:

• Acknowledgement in any research published in globally significant journals
• The opportunity to trial an innovative new tool, with extra support from the research team

To be eligible for this study, you must:

• Be a qualified ophthalmologist or cataract surgeon currently performing cataract surgery
• Continue to perform surgery at your current hospital or site for the duration of the study (up to July 2020)
• Practice in a low- or middle-income country
• Perform more than 5 operations per week, on average
• Have performed more than 100 cataract operations in your career

Participants will be asked to download the free BOOST (Better Operative Outcomes Software Tool) app on Android Smartphone or computer and record data from a total of 140 cataract operations. Participants will also be asked to complete short surveys at the beginning and end of the study to understand current practice.

All patient data is de-identified and surgeons can participate completely anonymously!

To register for the study or find out more information, contact [email protected]

The BOOST project is a collaboration between leading eye health organisations including the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), The Fred Hollows Foundation, HelpMeSee, Orbis International, Sightsavers International, Aravind Eye Care Systems, International Council of Ophthalmology, Seva Foundation, and Standard Chartered Bank’s Seeing is Believing fund.