Discussing resident participation in cataract surgery

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Education

Background:

• Patient consent is crucial for resident participation in surgical procedures.
• Previous literature suggested potential reluctance from patients regarding trainee involvement in cataract surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the proportion of patients who would consent to resident involvement in cataract surgery.
• To assess the impact of specific consent wording on patient agreement.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational case series design.
• Inclusion of consecutive patients undergoing evaluation for cataract surgery.
• Utilized a standardized script for discussing resident participation during the consent process.

Main Results:

• 101 out of 106 eligible patients (95.3%) consented to resident participation.
• High consent rate observed despite prior literature suggesting otherwise.

Conclusions:

• The majority of patients readily consent to resident participation in cataract surgery when informed using a specific, clear script.
• Surgeons can be reassured by the high acceptance rate of resident involvement.
• Effective communication during the consent process is key to patient agreement.