Mapping the Diabetic Retinopathy Patient Journey, From Screening to Recovery

Researchers have built a patient journey map for diabetic retinopathy by combining a synthesis of published qualitative studies with new interviews of patients in China. The work, published as an open-access research article in BMC Health Services Research, aims to visualize what people with the condition actually experience across the care continuum, so that healthcare managers can design services around patient needs rather than around clinical procedures alone. The study responds to a shift championed by the World Health Organization toward people-centered health, which moves the focus from disease management to the needs of the person receiving care.

Patient Journey Mapping is a methodological approach that charts patients’ experiences, emotions, and interactions with services over time, making it possible to identify where care could be improved. Despite extensive clinical research on diabetic retinopathy, the authors note that the phases and dimensions of its healthcare management process have remained poorly understood. The research unfolded in two phases. The first was a narrative literature review with a systematic search, in which the team mapped existing qualitative evidence on the experiences, emotions, and healthcare needs of people with diabetic retinopathy, analyzing the data using thematic synthesis. Twenty-five studies were included, and together they described patient experiences across screening, perioperative, and post-acute care phases, forming a preliminary framework of the journey.

The second phase involved semi-structured interviews with 13 persons with diabetic retinopathy at a Chinese university hospital. These interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and served to contextualize and enrich the synthesized literature findings. By integrating the two strands of evidence through triangulation, the researchers constructed a comprehensive Patient Journey Map that traces a complete trajectory from initial screening through treatment and into extended post-acute care. Quality assurance was built into the design: the team assessed study quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool, applied the GRADE-CERQual approach to evaluate confidence in the qualitative evidence, and followed the ENTREQ reporting guidelines for qualitative research synthesis. The article was published on 28 August 2026 as a peer-reviewed accepted version carrying a permanent DOI, with the final Version of Record to follow after further edits.

The resulting map visually illustrates patient experiences and behaviors across the care continuum, organizing them into the screening, perioperative, and extended treatment stages identified in the evidence. According to the authors, this evidence provides a theoretical foundation for developing tailored diabetes care recommendations based on individual needs, and Patient Journey Mapping contributes to improving healthcare management processes and supports healthcare managers in optimizing service delivery.

The study’s scope carries important limitations. It draws on qualitative evidence synthesized from 25 published studies and on interviews with 13 patients at a single Chinese university hospital, so the findings describe experiences and needs rather than measuring clinical outcomes or testing an intervention. As a mapping exercise, it identifies opportunities for service improvement; it does not itself demonstrate that any particular change improves care. The authors position the work as a contribution to healthcare and nursing management, offering managers a visual, evidence-based framework for understanding the diabetic retinopathy patient journey and for designing interventions matched to what patients report needing at each stage of care.

Subject of Research: Qualitative development of a patient journey map for diabetic retinopathy care

Article Title: Development of a patient journey map for diabetic retinopathy: exploring evidence from qualitative research

Article References: Wang, N., Wei, R., Liu, G., Li, J., & Moreira, P. (2026). Development of a patient journey map for diabetic retinopathy: exploring evidence from qualitative research. BMC Health Services Research, 26(1), Article 1210. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-026-15325-0

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12913-026-15325-0

Keywords: diabetic retinopathy, patient journey mapping, qualitative research, thematic synthesis, semi-structured interviews, people-centered health, health services research, screening, perioperative care, healthcare management, China, evidence synthesis