Evaluation of a simulation-based ophthalmology education workshop for medical students: a pilot project
Abstract Background/Aims Ophthalmology is an under-represented specialty in many medical school curriculums resulting in reduced confidence in medical students and clinicians when dealing with eye conditions. Our study evaluates the impact of a simulation-based education (SBE) workshop to train medi...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06712-y |
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| author | Shikha Bansal Vishaal Bhambhwani |
| author_facet | Shikha Bansal Vishaal Bhambhwani |
| author_sort | Shikha Bansal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background/Aims Ophthalmology is an under-represented specialty in many medical school curriculums resulting in reduced confidence in medical students and clinicians when dealing with eye conditions. Our study evaluates the impact of a simulation-based education (SBE) workshop to train medical students in ophthalmology. Methods Second-year medical students were invited to participate in a two-day (eight-hour) simulation-based ophthalmology workshop. Standardised patients, free-to-use simulators, and low-cost eye models were used to teach eye anatomy, physiology, pathologies, skills (slit-lamp, ophthalmoscopy etc.), and eye procedures (cataract surgery, eye lasers etc.). Learners filled questionnaires to evaluate their ophthalmology interest, confidence, and knowledge before the workshop, immediately after the workshop, and three months later. They also answered a feedback survey on the workshop’s quality and usefulness immediately after the workshop. Results Nine students, including six females and three males, participated in the workshop. Pre-workshop, learners’ mean self-reported confidence in dealing with ophthalmology patients was 1.8/5 and mean self-reported interest in pursuing an ophthalmology residency was 2.6/5 on a Likert-scale-based questionnaire (on a scale of 1–5). Learners scored a mean of 8.4/15 on an ophthalmology knowledge questionnaire with fifteen questions. Post-workshop (immediate), their mean self-reported confidence was 3.4/5 (p = 0.0001), interest in pursuing an ophthalmology residency was 3.2/5 (p = 0.022), and score on the ophthalmology questionnaire was 13/15 (p = 0.0001). Three months later, students’ self-reported mean confidence was 3.2/5 (p = 0.0001), the likelihood of choosing ophthalmology residency was 2.8/5 (p = 0.59), and score on the ophthalmology knowledge questionnaire was 11/15 (p = 0.006). The feedback survey showed that all students found the workshop relevant, comprehensive, easy to understand, and that they gained knowledge/skills applicable to their future clinical practice. Conclusions A small group SBE ophthalmology workshop improves learners’ knowledge, skills, and confidence using an approach they find interesting, with low cost and time investment. Trial registration Not applicable. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e683224cb70d418fa8b4b7b88c493882 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-e683224cb70d418fa8b4b7b88c4938822025-02-02T12:29:49ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202025-01-012511810.1186/s12909-025-06712-yEvaluation of a simulation-based ophthalmology education workshop for medical students: a pilot projectShikha Bansal0Vishaal Bhambhwani1Northern Ontario School of Medicine UniversityNorthern Ontario School of Medicine UniversityAbstract Background/Aims Ophthalmology is an under-represented specialty in many medical school curriculums resulting in reduced confidence in medical students and clinicians when dealing with eye conditions. Our study evaluates the impact of a simulation-based education (SBE) workshop to train medical students in ophthalmology. Methods Second-year medical students were invited to participate in a two-day (eight-hour) simulation-based ophthalmology workshop. Standardised patients, free-to-use simulators, and low-cost eye models were used to teach eye anatomy, physiology, pathologies, skills (slit-lamp, ophthalmoscopy etc.), and eye procedures (cataract surgery, eye lasers etc.). Learners filled questionnaires to evaluate their ophthalmology interest, confidence, and knowledge before the workshop, immediately after the workshop, and three months later. They also answered a feedback survey on the workshop’s quality and usefulness immediately after the workshop. Results Nine students, including six females and three males, participated in the workshop. Pre-workshop, learners’ mean self-reported confidence in dealing with ophthalmology patients was 1.8/5 and mean self-reported interest in pursuing an ophthalmology residency was 2.6/5 on a Likert-scale-based questionnaire (on a scale of 1–5). Learners scored a mean of 8.4/15 on an ophthalmology knowledge questionnaire with fifteen questions. Post-workshop (immediate), their mean self-reported confidence was 3.4/5 (p = 0.0001), interest in pursuing an ophthalmology residency was 3.2/5 (p = 0.022), and score on the ophthalmology questionnaire was 13/15 (p = 0.0001). Three months later, students’ self-reported mean confidence was 3.2/5 (p = 0.0001), the likelihood of choosing ophthalmology residency was 2.8/5 (p = 0.59), and score on the ophthalmology knowledge questionnaire was 11/15 (p = 0.006). The feedback survey showed that all students found the workshop relevant, comprehensive, easy to understand, and that they gained knowledge/skills applicable to their future clinical practice. Conclusions A small group SBE ophthalmology workshop improves learners’ knowledge, skills, and confidence using an approach they find interesting, with low cost and time investment. Trial registration Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06712-ySimulation-based educationMedical educationSimulation-based ophthalmologyOphthalmology education |
| spellingShingle | Shikha Bansal Vishaal Bhambhwani Evaluation of a simulation-based ophthalmology education workshop for medical students: a pilot project BMC Medical Education Simulation-based education Medical education Simulation-based ophthalmology Ophthalmology education |
| title | Evaluation of a simulation-based ophthalmology education workshop for medical students: a pilot project |
| title_full | Evaluation of a simulation-based ophthalmology education workshop for medical students: a pilot project |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of a simulation-based ophthalmology education workshop for medical students: a pilot project |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of a simulation-based ophthalmology education workshop for medical students: a pilot project |
| title_short | Evaluation of a simulation-based ophthalmology education workshop for medical students: a pilot project |
| title_sort | evaluation of a simulation based ophthalmology education workshop for medical students a pilot project |
| topic | Simulation-based education Medical education Simulation-based ophthalmology Ophthalmology education |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06712-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shikhabansal evaluationofasimulationbasedophthalmologyeducationworkshopformedicalstudentsapilotproject AT vishaalbhambhwani evaluationofasimulationbasedophthalmologyeducationworkshopformedicalstudentsapilotproject |