INTRODUCTIONThis study aimed to determine the reproducibility and usability of anterior segment images taken from a smartphone stabilised on a slit-lamp with those taken from a custom-mounted slit-lamp camera.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThis was a prospective, single- blind comparative digital imaging validation study. Digital photographs of patients with cataract were taken using a smartphone camera (an iPhone 5) on a telescopic mount and a Canon EOS 10D anterior segment camera. Images were graded and compared according to the Lens Opacification Classification System III (LOCS III).

RESULTSA total of 440 anterior segment images were graded independently by 2 ophthalmologists, 2 residents and 2 medical students. Intraclass correlation (ICC) between the iPhone and anterior segment camera images were fair for nuclear opalescence (NO) and nuclear colour (NC), and excellent for cortical (C) and posterior subcapsular (PSC) (NO: ICC 0.40, 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.57; NC: ICC 0.47, 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.66; C: ICC 0.76, 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.81; PSC: ICC 0.81, 95% CI, 0.76 to 0.85). There was no difference in grader impression of confidence and images usability between both cameras (P = 0.66 and P = 0.58, respectively).

CONCLUSIONAnterior segment images taken from an iPhone have good reproducibility for retro-illuminated images, but fair reproducibility for NO and NC under low light settings. There were no differences in grader confidence and subjective image suitability.

Cataract ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Ophthalmology ; Photography ; methods ; Prospective Studies ; Reproducibility of Results ; Single-Blind Method ; Slit Lamp Microscopy ; methods ; Smartphone

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biopsy, Needle ; Disease Progression ; Erythema ; complications ; physiopathology ; Female ; Foot Dermatoses ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Hand Dermatoses ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Pemphigus ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Pruritus ; complications ; physiopathology ; Rare Diseases ; Singapore ; Syndrome

Patient’s belief towards pain management may affect pain management outcomes and quality of life. The main aim of the present study was to determine the impact of a pre-operative pain education package towards pain belief among patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery in a tertiary hospital. A one-group pre-test post-test design study was conducted on orthopaedic surgery patients. Thirty respondents were recruited and pre-operative pain education was administered individually before surgery. Pre-operative and post-operative pain belief, management scores and side effects were measured using the Barrier Questionnaire (BQ-13). The results reported significant differences between pre-test scores (Mean = 41.87, Standard Deviation = 11.467) and post-test scores (Mean=34.80, Standard Deviation=13.026) of pain belief (t = 2.84, p = 0.004). There were also significant differences between pre-test scores (Mean = 37.10, Standard Deviation = 10.610) and post-test scores (Mean=30.80, Standard Deviation = 11.424) of pain management (t = 3.856, p = 0.0005). Respondent’s gender (t = -2.403, p = 0.023) and ethnicity (F = 5.038, p=0.014) reported significant differences with p value < 0.05, respectively. However, there were no significant differences between educational level, ethnicity, prior surgical history with pain belief (p> 0.05). There was positive impact of the pain education package towards pain belief and painmanagement among respondents who underwent orthopaedics surgery in a tertiary hospital. Reinforcement of pain educational program is pivotal in order to achieve optimal post-operative pain management.
Pain management