The Ophthalmology Surgical Competency Assessment Rubric for Intravitreal Injections (ICO-OSCAR:IVI)

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Education
• Surgical Skills Assessment

Background:

• Intravitreal injections (IVIs) are the most frequent intraocular surgical procedure globally.
• Proper training is crucial to mitigate potential complications associated with IVIs.
• A need exists for a standardized, internationally recognized method to evaluate IVI performance skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a valid and reliable tool for assessing the competency of healthcare professionals performing intravitreal injections.
• To create a standardized rubric applicable across international settings.

Main Methods:

• A modified Dreyfus scale of skill acquisition was employed to structure the assessment rubric.
• Content experts defined objective behavioral descriptors for each skill level within the IVI procedure.
• The rubric underwent iterative refinement based on feedback from a panel of international ophthalmology experts.

Main Results:

• The Ophthalmology Surgical Competency Assessment Rubric for IVI (ICO-OSCAR:IVI) was developed.
• The ICO-OSCAR:IVI provides a structured framework for evaluating IVI performance.
• The rubric is designed for global application in assessing trainee competence.

Conclusions:

• The ICO-OSCAR:IVI is a consensus-driven tool developed by international experts.
• The rubric possesses face and content validity due to its rigorous development process.
• This tool can be utilized worldwide for assessing IVI skills and evaluating teaching methodologies, with further research needed for reliability and predictive validity.