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. 2023 Mar;37(4):725-731.
doi: 10.1038/s41433-022-02040-3. Epub 2022 Mar 30.

Comparative analysis of European residency programs: benchmarking and harmonizing ophthalmology training in Europe

Roberto Anaya-Alaminos  1   2 , Marie Louise Rassmussen  3 , Simon S M Fung  4 , Jelena Potic  5   6 , Miguel González-Andrades  7
Affiliations

Comparative analysis of European residency programs: benchmarking and harmonizing ophthalmology training in Europe

Roberto Anaya-Alaminos et al. Eye (Lond). 2023 Mar.

Abstract

Background/objectives: This study aims to benchmark the training programs of European ophthalmology residents.

Subjects/methods: An online survey, aimed at European ophthalmology residents in training and those within two years of completion, was sent through the national representatives of the European Society of Ophthalmology, Young Ophthalmologists section (SOE-YO). The study involved 214 subjects representing 36 of the 44 European countries offering ophthalmology training programs.

Results: Among the surveyed, 74.8% of participants had an official national curriculum; 55.8% had a national specialty examination to accredit their training as ophthalmologists. 45.8% were satisfied or very satisfied with the clinical skills acquired, while 42.1% were completely dissatisfied with the surgical skills achieved. Considering the 4th year residents (mean duration of the residency), many of them did not perform phacoemulsification surgery (34%), pterygium excision (46.9%), or repair of eyelid laceration (31.3%).

Conclusions: There is great heterogeneity in the competencies achieved by residents in training according to their country of origin, especially in terms of surgical competences.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Residency length by country.
Duration of residency in years (median ± SEM) according to countries (in alphabetical order).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Subtypes of surgeries performed by country.
Subtypes of surgeries performed by country for ≤ 3rd year residents and ≥4th year residents or postgraduates. BIH = Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. Degree of agreement - satisfaction.
Degree of agreement of the participants with the existence of an official program common to all European countries and an evaluation system that endorses the training of the residents (A) and their degree of satisfaction with the clinical and surgical training achieved (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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