Use of a written simulation to evaluate optometric clinical proficiency

Area of Science:

• Optometry and Vision Science
• Medical Education
• Assessment Methods

Background:

• Traditional optometric education relies heavily on clinical proficiency evaluations.
• There is a need for tools to assess non-performance-based clinical competencies.
• Written simulations offer a potential method for evaluating cognitive skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and administer a written simulation of an optometric patient examination.
• To compare test scores from the written simulation with a clinical proficiency evaluation.
• To determine if written simulations can assess different clinical competencies than traditional methods.

Main Methods:

• A written simulation of an optometric patient examination was developed.
• The simulation was administered to third-year optometry students.
• Scores were statistically compared against results from a clinical proficiency evaluation.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant correlation was found between written simulation scores and clinical proficiency scores.
• The written simulation appeared to measure problem-solving and case-analysis skills.
• Clinical proficiency evaluation focused on clinical performance skills.

Conclusions:

• Written simulations and clinical proficiency evaluations assess distinct areas of clinical competence in optometry.
• Written simulations are a potentially useful tool for teaching and evaluating problem-solving and case-analysis skills in optometric curricula.
• Student and faculty feedback supported the utility of written simulations for assessing cognitive skills.