Surgical Training During Residency : An Opinion-Based Study Among Ophthalmology Residents In France

To assess the opinion of Ophthalmology Residents in France on their own surgical training, in a national study based on a questionnaire.

Surgical training is an essential part of the initial training in Ophthalmology residency. This surgical training can be divided into 2 categories : simulation (drylab/wetlab), and hands-on training on real patients. The impact of simulation on the trainee's technical abilities is well known, although few studies have addressed the residents’ opinion regarding their own training, both through simulation or hands-on training on real patients.

A 27-item questionnaire was sent to the 1057 Ophthalmology Residents registered in France, either by email via mailing lists, or through social media. Questions were single-, multiple-choice, or open-ended. The questionnaire inquired about satisfaction with surgical training during residency, simulation platforms as well as accessibility to drylabs and wetlabs in cataract, anterior segment, and vitreoretinal surgery. Questions also regarded the presence of a surgical mentor during residency, and/or a list of surgical goals and objectives.

321 residents completed the questionnaire (30.3% answer rate). Residents where in their 1st to 12th semester. All 27 French regions were represented.

Respondents gave an overall score of 5.27/10 to their surgical training during Residency : this score differed significantly according to region.

80.7% of respondents had already performed Cataract Surgery in its entirety : on average, this first Cataract surgery was performed at the end of their third semester.

91.9% of respondents had access to simulation : drylabs were rated 6.99/10 and wetlabs 6.39/10.

Residents commented on the lack of national standardization of surgical goals nationally, and wished for more mentoring for surgery, as well as increased access to surgery on real patients.

Resident opinion of Ophthalmological training in France is mixed : disparities are still very present in terms of access to surgical teaching within the country, with little to no standardization at the national level. Mentoring, seen as essential, is still little implemented. Access to simulation is encouraged with a progressive transition to hands-on training.