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. 2021 Apr 19;21(1):219.
doi: 10.1186/s12909-021-02659-y.

The impact of distance cataract surgical wet laboratory training on cataract surgical competency of ophthalmology residents

Amelia Geary  1 , Qing Wen  2 , Rosa Adrianzén  3   4 , Nathan Congdon  5 , R Janani  6 , Danny Haddad  5 , Clare Szalay Timbo  5 , Yousuf M Khalifa  7
Affiliations

The impact of distance cataract surgical wet laboratory training on cataract surgical competency of ophthalmology residents

Amelia Geary et al. BMC Med Educ. .

Abstract

Background: This study assessed the impact of distance cataract surgical wet laboratory training on surgical competency of ophthalmology residents at a tertiary-level ophthalmic training center in Trujillo, Peru.

Methods: Three five-week distance wet lab courses were administered through Cybersight, Orbis International's telemedicine platform. Weekly lectures and demonstrations addressed specific steps in phacoemulsification surgery. Each lecture had two accompanying wet lab assignments, which residents completed and recorded in their institution's wet lab and uploaded to Cybersight for grading. Competency was assessed through anonymous grading of pre- and post-training surgical simulation videos, masked as to which occurred before and after training, using a standardized competency rubric adapted from the Ophthalmology Surgical Competency Assessment Rubric (OSCAR, scale of 0-32). Day one best-corrected post-operative visual acuity (BVCA) was assessed in the operative eye on the initial consecutive 4-6 surgeries conducted by the residents as per the norms of their residency training. An anonymous post-training satisfaction survey was administered to trainees'.

Results: In total, 21 ophthalmic residents participated in the courses, submitting a total of 210 surgical videos. Trainees' average competency score increased 6.95 points (95%CI [4.28, 9.62], SD = 5.01, p < 0.0001, two sample t-test) from 19.3 (95%CI [17.2, 21.5], SD = 4.04) to 26.3 (95%CI [24.2, 28.3], SD = 3.93). Visual acuity for 92% of post-training resident surgeries (n = 100) was ≥20/60, meeting the World Health Organization's criterion for good quality.

Conclusions: Structured distance wet lab courses in phacoemulsification resulted in significantly improved cataract surgical skills. This model could be applicable to locations where there are obstacles to traditional in-person training, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID – 19; Cataract surgical training; Distance-learning; Mentorship; Ophthalmic residency training; Simulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Patient systemic and ocular co-morbidities
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Presenting visual acuity versus post-operative day one best corrected visual acuity (BCVA)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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