May 2004
Volume 45, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2004
Perceived factors which influence the quality of ophthalmic surgical education: attributes of surgical educators and residency programs, and expectations of trainees.
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • C.S. Chiu
    Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA
  • N.K. Waheed
    Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA
  • D. Vavvas
    Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  C.S. Chiu, None; N.K. Waheed, None; D. Vavvas, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  none
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2004, Vol.45, 1406. doi:
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      C.S. Chiu, N.K. Waheed, D. Vavvas; Perceived factors which influence the quality of ophthalmic surgical education: attributes of surgical educators and residency programs, and expectations of trainees. . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2004;45(13):1406.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: Increasing financial pressure in teaching hospitals has fostered sentiments that teaching has fallen to second priority. This has led to questions of whether residents feel adequately trained in ophthalmic surgery, whether there are markers of excellence in teaching among attendings, and whether differences in surgical exposure at different programs influence applicants in their choice of residencies. Methods: A survey regarding qualities in a surgical teacher, in a residency program, and in resident life was distributed to the residents of the Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI). The survey asked each trainee to rate the level of importance of ("0" not at all – "10" ultimate) or the level of agreement with ("0" disagree – "10" agree) characteristics used to judge the categories listed above. (Phase 2 of the study will add the results of the MEEI fellows; Phase 3 of the study will compare both trainee groups to those of the attending staff.) The appropriate statistical tests (student's t–test, chi–squared) were used. Results: 15 of 23 residents returned the survey (65%). 54 questions were analyzed. The most important factors that a trainee values in an attending were: willingness for case turnover (mean 9.23, range 7–10, std dev 0.94); perception that attending can salvage a dangerous situation (8.90, 6–10, 1.14); attending’s perceived surgical aptitude (8.53, 5–10, 1.41). The least valued were: an attending's surgical reputation (5.07, 1–9, 2.31); opportunity to watch attending as primary surgeon (5.40, 2–8, 1.96). The residents felt that they would be more medically than surgically competent at the conclusion of their training (9.47 vs 8.37, p=0.07). The qualities in resident life that most impacted surgical learning were anxiety level of attending (8.47, 6–10, 4.49); comfort with instruments (8.47, 6–10, 1.19); confidence in his own surgical skills (8.13, 6–10, 1.25). The qualities that least impacted surgical learning were choosing an appropriate first case (5.93, 1–9, 2.34) and anxiety level of the patient (6.03, 3–10, 2.29). Even these least important factors were still deemed important. Conclusions: As ophthalmology training becomes more influenced by financial pressure, there may be greater difficulty in adequate surgical training of residents, and increasing pressure on graduates to be surgically experienced. This study examines what factors present in an attending surgeon, a training program, and a trainee's own experience most influence the perception of being well surgically prepared.

Keywords: training/teaching cataract surgery 
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