The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted medical education across the globe due to unique logistical challenges and physical-distancing protocols.
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For this reason, medical educators have had to adapt to these unprecedented times at a rapid rate. Concerns with ophthalmology's representation in medical school curricula were identified before the 2020 pandemic.2
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An increasingly crowded medical curriculum has led to the erosion of ophthalmology education for undergraduate medical students.5
American medical educators in ophthalmology reacted to the current climate through innovative ways such as virtual clerkships and nationwide online curriculum resources.6
Steps must be taken to prevent the consequences of any further decline in the quality of ophthalmology training in Canada, a concern amplified in the current pandemic environment.Methods
An online survey was sent to undergraduate ophthalmology leads at all 17 Canadian medical schools. Qualitative questions relating to curriculum delivery, clinical rotations, and assessment were addressed in the survey (Table 1).
Table 1COVID-19 Ophthalmology Curriculum Survey Questions
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CBL, case-based learning; ACUPO, Association of Canadian University Professors of Ophthalmology; UGME undergraduate medical education.
Using established interpretive description methodology,
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we analyzed data with an inductive, iterative, comparative approach that allowed data and observations to be grouped into themes, based on similarity of content. More specifically, data and observations were initially grouped by one investigator (C.P.), then reviewed and challenged by the other investigators (C.L., A.M., and N.N.), leading to discussion and re-analysis of the original data. This iterative process continued through several cycles of discussion and reanalysis until all were satisfied that the groupings adequately summarized the stakeholders’ experiences. Finally, we identified patterns within the groupings to develop overarching interpretations of the themes. Member checking was performed by having several interview respondents review the identified themes. This study received approval from the Queens University ethics review board.Results
Eleven of 17 undergraduate medical education leads gave consent to take part and responded to the online survey (response rate 64.7%). Thematic analysis of the survey responses generated 3 major themes. Example quotations from respondents are listed in Table 2.
Table 2COVID-19 Ophthalmology Curriculum Survey Example Responses. Quotations from ophthalmology curriculum leads in responses to survey questions representing the 3 identified themes
| Theme | Example Survey Responses |
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| Theme 1: Preclerkship lecture material moving to virtual delivery | Quote 1: “We will be using remote and/or digitally based delivery at least fall 2020.” Quote 2: “Lectures - online; CBL - online, dissection lab and E-modules discussion – online.” Quote 3: “Lectures will be delivered by zoom. For many students who didn't attend lecture pre-COVID, this isn't any different than what they would have received, as they watched recorded lectures online.” |
| Theme 2: Impact on clinical experience (clinical skills teaching and clerkship rotations) | Quote 1: “We have reorganized the teaching sessions that are given on direct ophthalmoscopy on models. The groups have been reduced to allow distancing.” Quote 2: “In-person small group clinical skills were cancelled for students in 2020 and it is not yet clear what will happen in 2021.” Quote 3: “Currently the second-year medical student in-person clinical skills session was postponed to the fall (TBD). Videos are available created by the department for medical students to watch.” |
| Theme 3: The call for online curricular resources | Quote 1: “National virtual curriculum with clinical videos ± lectures so each institution doesn't have to reinvent the wheel. Nationwide virtual opportunities for ophthalmology-bound medical students to learn about other schools and programs (ie, a standardized approach or timing).” Quote 2: “It would be great to have a national online curriculum (ie, shared database of lectures, test questions, online videos that could be integrated into existing curriculum time).” Quote 3: “High-quality interactive sessions for clinical skills learning - right now combination of video and video conferencing modality but this does not appear to be sufficient in learning slit lamp examination or direct ophthalmoscopy skills.” |
CBL, case-based learning.
Theme 1: Preclerkship Lecture Material and Assessments Moving to Virtual Delivery
At the time of the survey, all 11 of the respondents noted that the delivery of preclerkship ophthalmology curriculum at their institution was online. For 9 of the 11 of the schools (82%), this material had previously been delivered in person. However, only 2 of 11 (18%) reported a change in assessment (tests, exams etc.) from in-person to online.
Theme 2: Impact on Clinical Experience (Clinical Skills Teaching and Clerkship Rotations)
Before the pandemic, all programs taught preclerkship clinical skills in person. Currently, 4 of the 11 (36.4%) have moved online, 2 (18.2%) continue in-person teaching, and 5 (45.4%) were unsure how preclerkship clinical skills will be delivered.
Theme 3: The Call for Online Curricular Resources
When asked where Association of Canadian University Professors of Ophthalmology could provide support, 5 of 9 respondents (55%) requested the development of online curricular resources. Of the 5 who requested these curricular resources, 3 mentioned the possibility of a nationally available database that could be integrated into the existing curriculum.
Conclusion
Social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the landscape of undergraduate ophthalmology education across all Canadian medical schools. The most significant changes are the delivery of online lectures to preclinical students, a shift for some schools to online clinical skills delivery, and the lack of elective opportunities for students outside their home institution. There are obvious implications and many unanswered questions that these changes will bring, for example:
- •Will online lectures provide new challenges and continued erosion of ophthalmology education? Or will they provide more widely accessible resources?
- •How can “virtual” clinical skills in ophthalmology be delivered to teach proper eye examination skills?
- •What will be the effects of elective restrictions on students potentially interested in ophthalmology residency?
The survey results also highlight how the pandemic may create opportunity for innovation. For example, the expansion of nationally available online curricular resources such as the Canadian Ophthalmology Society's “practice resource center” is an area of ongoing desire.
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Perhaps the current disruption with its move to significant online learning is the catalyst to drive Canadian educators to move toward this goal.COS Practice Resource Center. Available at: www.cosprc.ca/topics/resources-for-medical-students/. Accessed September 20, 2020.
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the curriculum directors who agreed to participate in this survey and contribute valuable information to the findings of the study. This study was done by the recommendation of The Association of Canadian University Professors of Ophthalmology (ACUPO).
Footnotes and Disclosure
The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
References
- Medical student education in the time of COVID-19.JAMA. 2020; 323: 2131-2213
- The state of ophthalmology medical student education in the United States and Canada, 2012 through 2013.Ophthalmology. 2014; 121 (1160e1163)
- An analysis of undergraduate ophthalmology training in Canada.Can J Ophthalmol. 2009; 44: 513-518
- A novel 3-year longitudinal pilot study of medical students' acquisition and retention of screening eye examination skills [published correction appears in Ophthalmology. 2006;113:1056].Ophthalmology. 2006; 113: 133-139
- Status of Canadian undergraduate medical education in ophthalmology.Can J Ophthalmol. 2018; 53: 474-479
- Medical education and path to residency in ophthalmology in the COVID-19 era: perspective from medical student educators.Ophthalmology. 2020; 127: e95-e98
- Strengths and challenges in the use of interpretive description: reflections arising from a study of the moral experience of health professionals in humanitarian work.Qual Health Res. 2009; 19: 1284-1292
COS Practice Resource Center. Available at: www.cosprc.ca/topics/resources-for-medical-students/. Accessed September 20, 2020.
Article Info
Publication History
Published online: March 17, 2021
Accepted:
March 8,
2021
Received in revised form:
January 27,
2021
Received:
September 27,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
