Patient attitudes toward resident involvement in cataract surgery

To assess how patients in an academic ophthalmology practice feel regarding the involvement of residents in their cataract surgery.

Using an anonymous survey, we asked patients with cataracts about issues related to resident involvement in cataract surgery, including informed consent, how likely they were to agree to resident involvement in their surgery, and the likelihood that they would seek care elsewhere if residents were to be involved in their surgery.

Participants indicated they should be asked in advance if a resident may assist in (83%) or perform (96%) their surgery. The person asking permission should be the attending surgeon. Most participants would agree to resident assistance (83%), and nearly half would agree to resident performance (49%) of their cataract surgery. Participants indicated that they would be upset if the resident assisted in (45%) or performed (74%) their surgery without their expressed permission. Few would seek treatment in a setting without residents if a resident were to assist in (7%) or perform (26%) their cataract surgery.

Most individuals would accept resident involvement in their cataract surgery provided full disclosure was provided by their attending surgeon.