What Do We Expect New Graduate Orthoptists to Do?

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Education
• Healthcare Professions

Background:

• The British & Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS) sought to validate its updated orthoptic curriculum.
• Understanding the expectations placed on newly qualified orthoptists is crucial for effective training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the alignment between the updated BIOS orthoptic curriculum and the practical expectations of the profession for early-career orthoptists.
• To gather insights from practicing BIOS members on essential skills and knowledge for new graduates.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to all practicing BIOS members.
• The survey comprised 35 questions across five domains: professional behavior, foundational knowledge, investigation, management, and research/literature skills.
• Data analysis considered respondents' working environment, experience, region, and teaching involvement.

Main Results:

• A total of 325 orthoptists provided usable data, with 265 submitting full datasets.
• Respondents indicated that orthoptists often need to exercise significant autonomy and responsibility early in their careers.
• Broad consensus existed on core orthoptic topics, with more variation in peripheral areas; experienced orthoptists placed higher value on broader medical aspects.

Conclusions:

• The study confirmed a generally good match between current undergraduate orthoptic training and industry expectations for new graduates.
• Orthoptic training must equip graduates with the skills for a high degree of professional autonomy from the outset.
• Targeted continuing professional development (CPD) may be beneficial for orthoptists at different career stages.