A Novel Video-Based Skills Curriculum for Incoming Ophthalmology Residents

Given limited pre-residency ophthalmology exposure, skill training for PGY-2 ophthalmology residents is essential. However, orientation experiences vary, and skills acquisition is often not measured.

A novel video-based orientation curriculum was developed and implemented to standardize and effectively teach ophthalmic examination skills to incoming ophthalmology residents.

An instructional video library (VL) on ophthalmic exam skills was created in 2020. Prior to any instruction, PGY2s were recorded performing basic ophthalmic exams (BOE) using slit-lamp recording smartphone adapters. After a 2-week orientation involving live teaching, practice, and self-directed library review, ophthalmic exams were again recorded. A 36-point ophthalmic exam skills checklist expanding upon the Ophthalmic Clinical Evaluation Exercise (OCEX) was developed for scoring videos. Residents also completed pre- and post- surveys assessing their comfort with the ophthalmic exam.

7 of 11 incoming PGY-2 residents (63.7%) ophthalmology residents participated. Average recorded OCEX score improved from 16.5 ± 5.8 to (p = .0002) to 30.9 ± 2.7. Surveyed resident comfort with the exam increased from 2.4 ± 0.6 to 4.2 ± 0.5 on a 5-point Likert scale (p < .0001).

Our video library orientation curriculum was effective in rapidly increasing resident comfort and BOE skills. With the launch of the integrated internship model, the VL curriculum may be effective for training ophthalmology PGY1s, medical students and non-ophthalmology providers.