{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,2]],"date-time":"2025-08-02T16:48:31Z","timestamp":1754153311740,"version":"3.41.2"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Pasifika Medical Association Group","issue":"1619","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["NZMJ"],"abstract":"<jats:p>aim: Keratoconus is characterised by progressive corneal thinning and protrusion, leading to vision loss. Despite the availability of\ntreatments to arrest its progression, patient outcomes in New Zealand are limited by delayed diagnosis and treatment. This study\naimed to identify barriers to early diagnosis and treatment of keratoconus among patients in New Zealand, focussing on improving\noutcomes and reducing health disparities, particularly among M\u0101ori and Pacific populations.\nmethods: A focus group was conducted with 11 participants, including wh\u0101nau and patients with serious or progressive keratoconus\nwho underwent corneal cross-linking at Rotorua Eye Clinic. Participants shared their experiences navigating the keratoconus care\npathway from initial symptoms to treatment. Grounded theory and thematic analysis were employed to identify key barriers and\nsuggestions for improving care delivery.\nresults: Four themes emerged. Firstly, there were barriers to initial diagnosis. The main challenges included a lack of awareness of\nkeratoconus and delays in referral to ophthalmology. Secondly, participants discussed challenges faced in accessing ophthalmology\nservices, including lack of communication and financial and logistical issues. Thirdly, keratoconus significantly impacted their quality\nof life. Patients and wh\u0101nau reported emotional, social and occupational burdens. Participants emphasised timely diagnosis and\nconsistent referral pathways to avoid the morbidity they experience. Finally, we discussed suggestions for improving the keratoconus\npatient pathway. Suggestions included community education, school-based screening programmes and clearer patient education at\nthe point-of-care.\nconclusion: Significant barriers hinder early diagnosis and treatment of keratoconus, exacerbating its impact on quality of life.\nSchool-based screening and targeted education campaigns could expedite diagnosis and intervention.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.26635\/6965.6916","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,22]],"date-time":"2025-07-22T22:01:58Z","timestamp":1753221718000},"page":"31-38","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Barriers to entry for keratoconus patients to corneal cross-linking services in provincial New Zealand: a patient and family qualitative research project"],"prefix":"10.26635","volume":"138","author":[{"given":"Colin","family":"Parsloe","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Malcolm","family":"Naude","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Joshua","family":"Read","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"11177","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,25]]},"container-title":["New Zealand Medical Journal"],"original-title":[],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,22]],"date-time":"2025-07-22T22:01:59Z","timestamp":1753221719000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/nzmj.org.nz\/journal\/vol-138-no-1619\/barriers-to-entry-for-keratoconus-patients-to-corneal-cross-linking-services-in-provincial-new-zealand-a-patient-and-family-qual"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,25]]},"references-count":0,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1619","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,25]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.26635\/6965.6916","relation":{},"ISSN":["1175-8716"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"1175-8716"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,25]]}}}