[Ophthalmology lectures from the students' point of view]

Lectures with many participants are considered inefficient and ophthalmology is seen as "not so important" for those studying medicine. We wondered about the students' view on this subject.

During the last lesson of a two-week-series of lectures together with the written test, 337 students of two consecutive semesters received a questionnaire with specific questions concerning ophthalmology lectures.

257 questionnaires (76 %) were returned. The students claimed that the lecture itself contributed most of the knowledge for their later medical practice, more than books, scripts, internet etc. Interactivity was welcome, audience response systems were appreciated. Personal contact to the lecturers was considered less important, a variation of the lecturers was considered advantageous. It would be seen as a serious loss if the ophthalmology lecture were abolished.

These results contradict clearly the concept of the unimportance of lectures with many participants and contradict as well tendencies not to teach "small" specialties in separate lectures.