Assessment of ophthalmological surgical training in Ile-de-France: Results of a survey on 89 residents

Objective. - This study aims to evaluate surgical training in ophthalmology through feedback from residents.Materials and methods. - An anonymous questionnaire was created, including 20 items which assessed the number of complete or partial surgical procedures performed during a semester, self-assessment of surgical skills, use of surgical simulators, an overall rating of the surgical training received and some suggestions to improve surgical training. It was sent by email to all residents in training in Ile-de-France (DES Ile-de-France and Inter-CHU), France.Results. - From October 23 to November 7, 2021, 89/137 residents responded to the question-naire (65%). Since the beginning of their residency, ninety percent of the residents received training using simulators. Over 90% performed all of the technical steps of a "standard"cataract surgery at least once during the semester, and 60% 10 times or more. The least per-formed technical steps or procedures also received the lowest self-assessment: management of expulsive hemorrhage, open-globe or lacrimal laceration wound suturing, capsular tension ring injection, and intraocular lens explantation. Residents gave an overall average rating of 6.6/10 to their training and suggested some feedback on videos of resident surgeries (67%) and theoretical courses dealing with surgical techniques (61%).Discussion. - The increasing use of simulators should improve surgical training. Residents express the need for training regarding surgical complications and emergencies as well as improvement of their technical skills via improved feedback.Conclusion. - Surgical teaching appears suitable for learning cataract surgery but seems less effective for the management of emergencies and intraoperative complications.(c) 2022 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.