Survey on Teaching of Uveitis Management in U.S. Ophthalmology Residency Training Programs

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To evaluate the teaching program regarding uveitis management in U.S. Ophthalmology residency training programs. Methods: The program directors of the 113 accredited ophthalmology residency training programs were presented with a 7 question survey. Participation in the survey was voluntary and the identity of the sruvey was kept anonymous. Results: Survey results were obtained from 42% (47) of the program directors. 57% of the responding programs did not have a dedicated curriculum and rotation specifically for uveitis management. Of those that have clinical rotations for uveitis, the average number patients seen per week is approximately 20 total patients by two residents; for programs without an uveitis rotation, the average number of uveitis patients seen per week was 20. Thirty–one of the 47 programs have uveitis specialist on staff in their ophthalmology departments with 74% of them having received formal fellowship training. Thirteen programs have separate uveitis departments. Forty percent of the respondent programs have residents actively participate in using steroid–sparing agents, fifty–seven percent programs responded that their residents were aware such medicines were available but were not actively using them. One program replied that their residents were not taught immunosuppressive medications at all. Conclusions: Less than half of US ophthalmology residency programs contain a part of the curriculum dedicated specifcally to uveitis management. Residents in programs with a dedicated uveitis rotation tended to see more uveitis patients than residents in programs without. The majority of programs allow for residents to observe the use of steroid–sparing immunosuppressives in the management of severe uveitis.

Keywords: uveitis-clinical/animal model • uveitis-clinical/animal model • uveitis-clinical/animal model