Digital care pathway for chalazion therapy in Finland
Author: Mika Siuko
Base Hospital / Institution: Helsinki University Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology
ePoster presentation
Abstract ID: 25-187
Purpose
To develop a modern Digital Care Pathway for Chalazion (DCPC) therapy aimed at improving patient self-care, reducing the number of in-person visits, and evaluating potential cost savings at the Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS). Additionally, we assessed the safety and patient satisfaction associated with the DCPC.
Methods
The DCPC was developed in collaboration with the Digital Health Village service platform (Helsinki, Finland) and the Department of Ophthalmology at HUS. The pathway included patient education materials, remote treatment monitoring by healthcare professionals, and a digital appointment booking system. All chalazion referrals to HUS were reviewed by specialists in ophthalmology, who jointly administered the DCPC with nursing staff. Eligible patients were between 18 and 65 years old.
Results
The DCPC has been in operation since 2020. Over a five-year period, it was offered to 1,019 patients, of whom 610 (60%) accepted the invitation to participate. Of these, approximately one-third (31%) did not require an in-person visit to the ophthalmology department. Most participants (59%) were female, with a mean age of 38 years. The median duration of symptoms prior to referral was 16 weeks. The majority (64%) were experiencing their first chalazion. Chalazion surgery was performed in less than half (41%) of DCPC users, and a biopsy was conducted in 4.8% of cases. Malignancy was confirmed in only one case (0.2%), diagnosed as nodular basal cell carcinoma. Nearly all patient feedback was favorable.
Conclusion
The DCPC is a safe, effective, and easy-to-implement solution. It demonstrates significant potential for cost savings, as a substantial proportion of chalazion patients did not require hospital visits.
Additional Authors
| First name | Last name | Base Hospital / Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Paula | Niinimäki | Helsinki University Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology |
| Marita | Uusitalo | Helsinki University Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology |
| Tero | Kivelä | Helsinki University Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology |
