How effective is undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in ophthalmology?
PURPOSE: To gain an insight into the adequacy of ophthalmic medical education for doctors in the primary care setting. METHODS: A short forced-choice questionnaire was set to 150 randomly selected primary care practitioners in and around Bristol. Information was collected in relation to undergraduate and postgraduate ophthalmic education, ophthalmic confidence, facilities and understanding. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-three primary care doctors replied to the questionnaire of whom 35% were fundholders and 47% in training practices. Only 22% of all respondents felt their undergraduate ophthalmic medical education to be adequate. However, 83% of the 86 primary care doctors who had attended postgraduate update courses in ophthalmology felt these to be adequate. Despite the availability of an ophthalmoscope and distance vision chart, only 56% felt confident with the ophthalmoscope and only 61% reported that their distance chart was set up in accord with manufacturer’s instructions. Sev
