Abstract
Purpose :
The iExaminer allows the user to utilize the view from the PanOptic and an instructor to coach the user on relevant findings. This study assesses the role of the iExaminer as a teaching and diagnostic tool for medical students compare to the PanOptic alone.
Methods :
Prospective cross-over study of medical students performing direct ophthalmoscopy on patients after a didactic session at a single academic center in 2018. Students used the PanOptic and the PanOptic with iExaminer and were blinded to the correct diagnoses. For control, students were shown images taken with the iExaminer. Students documented their findings and level of confidence in making diagnoses in each scenario. A paired t-test was used to compare end points between all three groups.
Results :
This study enrolled 81 second-year medical students, and a total of 4 glaucoma patients were examined. Mean percentage of correct findings was 63% for the exams with the PanOptic, which was more than the 60% found with the PanOptic with iExaminer (p=0.03) and 53% with the control iExaminer image (p<0.01). More confidence was reported with the Panoptic with iExaminer than with the PanOptic, with mean confidence scoring at 2.43 and 2.04 on a five-point scale, respectively (p=0.02).
Conclusions :
The iExaminer is a useful teaching tool and confidence booster for medical students with instructor help as opposed to a diagnostic device in the hands of an inexperienced user. Relatively low absolute scoring with the iExaminer image alone suggests baseline ophthalmic knowledge as the limiting performance factor. This study emphasizes the need for practice in correctly identifying findings in patients and using the equipment. Higher confidence with the PanOptic with iExaminer may increase the likelihood of students practicing direct ophthalmoscopy outside the confines of our session. Further studies looking into sequential workshops for students will hopefully show improvement in their exams.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.