Purpose
To investigate the impact of resident training with a cataract surgical simulator on patients' perceptions of resident involvement in cataract surgery and to identify patient characteristics associated with willingness to have resident-performed cataract surgery.
Methods
An anonymous 26-question survey was distributed to 430 consecutive patients at the Penn State Hershey Eye Center. The survey included demographic information, questions assessing willingness to have a resident involved in cataract surgery, and questions assessing knowledge of the role of residents in patient care. Patients were assigned randomly to one of two groups. Patients assigned to group one watched a brief video explaining the role of a surgical simulator in resident training, and were then asked to complete the survey. Patients assigned to group two were asked to complete the survey without watching the video. Standard t-test was used to compare demographic data. Odds ratios were used to compare responses between the two groups.
Results
410 patients (95.3%) completed the survey, including 203 patients in group one and 207 patients in group two. Compared to patients in group two, patients in group one were twice as likely to express willingness for a resident to perform their cataract surgery (O.R. 2.02; p <0.001). Across all patients, men were more likely than women to express a willingness for a resident to perform their cataract surgery (O.R. 1.65; p=0.0065). Overall, 25% of patients expressed willingness to allow a resident to perform their cataract surgery, and this percentage increased to 54% if patients were informed that an experienced cataract surgeon supervises the resident. Ninety-five percent of patients felt they should be informed in advance if their cataract surgery was to be performed by a resident. <br />
Conclusions
Patients were more likely to express willingness to allow a resident to perform his/her cataract surgery after watching a video explaining the role of a surgical simulator in resident training for cataract surgery. A thorough informed consent process, including information regarding supervision of resident-performed cataract surgery and a brief video detailing resident training with a surgical simulator, may increase patient willingness to allow resident participation in cataract surgery.