Medical professionalism in ophthalmology: design and testing of a scenario based survey.

BACKGROUND: Professionalism is hard to quantify but essential in medical practice. We present a survey tool for ophthalmologists that assessed professionalism using case-based scenarios in central Saudi Arabia. METHODS: Ophthalmologists (resident, fellows and consultants) participated in a web-based survey in 2015. Out of 44 attributes related to professionalism, experts selected 32 attributes with validity indices of ≥0.80. To evaluate these attributes, 51 scenario-based questions were developed and included in the survey. For each attribute, participants were given choices of close ended responses: unacceptable (1), probably unacceptable (2), acceptable (3), probably acceptable (4). The attribute score was compared to the gold standard (responses of an expert group). An attribute score was generated and compared among subgroups. RESULTS: Of the 155 ophthalmologists, responses of 147 ophthalmologists who completed more than 50% of questions were reviewed. Their mean attribute score was 84.1 ± 10.1 (Median 87.1; 25% quartile 78.1; minimum 50; and maximum 100). The variation in attribute score among consultants, fellows and resident ophthalmologists was significant (P = 0.008). The variation of attribute score by groups of attributes was also significant (P < 0.05). The score for 'Personal characteristics' was on a lower scale compared to that of other attribute groups. The variation in the scores for attribute groups; 'Personal characteristics attribute' group (p < 0.01) and 'Workplace practices & relationship' group (P = 0.03) for consultants, fellows and residents were significant. CONCLUSIONS: Professionalism among ophthalmologists and those in training was high and influenced by years of experience. The survey tool appeared to show differences in responses to specific professional attribute groups between trainees and consultants. Additional studies with a larger sample size might be helpful in validating the survey as a tool to be used to assess professionalism in graduate medical education in ophthalmology.

Advanced coats-like retinopathy as the initial presentation of Familial Retinal Arterial Macroaneurysms.

PURPOSE: To describe two young Saudi brothers with bilateral progressive retinal arterial aneurysms and a subtotal exudative retinal detachment with Coats-like presentation in the older sibling as the initial presentation of Familial Retinal Arterial Macroaneurysms (FRAM). OBSERVATIONS: Two young Saudi brothers with a family history of consanguinity presented with the classic clinical presentation and genetic identification of FRAM. In this report, we describe the presence of prominent peripheral retinal capillary changes mimicking Coats' disease. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: FRAM can present similar to bilateral Coats' disease and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of Coats-like retinopathy. The diagnosis of FRAM may have a significant implication because of the associated cardiac abnormality, such as supravalvular pulmonary stenosis, which should be evaluated by echocardiography and managed accordingly.

Preferred Method of Education Among Patients in Ophthalmic Care in Saudi Arabia.

PURPOSE: Educating patients about their diagnosis and proposed management is integral part of healthcare. Often patient noncompliance is due to a lack of knowledge that could result in irreversible ocular damage. In an era where access to information is virtually unlimited, an understanding of the preferred method of eye care education among patients is required for greater effectiveness in lowering morbidity and mortality of diseases. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients visiting the ophthalmology clinics of a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were interviewed. This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2014 and March 2015. A representative sample of 200 patients was enrolled. Close-ended questionnaire covering current and client preferred health promotion methods were used to collect clients' response. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Out of the 200 participants, 110 (55%) were males. The majority (n = 154; 77%) listed an ophthalmologist as their current primary source of information regarding their eye condition. Approximately half of the participants (n = 95; 48%) were keen to be educated regarding the causes of the eye disease. The top four educational methods preferred by patients were one-on-one session with an eye care provider (n = 116; 58%), a group session with an eye care provider (n = 30; 15%), an application on a smartphone (n = 53; 27%), video lectures on eye health and diseases (n = 8; 4%). CONCLUSION: Majority of patients in ophthalmic care prefer a one-on-one session with an eye care provider for their eye care education.

Endophthalmitis following keratoplasty: incidence, microbial profile, visual and structural outcomes.

PURPOSE: To identify the causative organisms of post-keratoplasty endophthalmitis and to report its visual and structural outcomes. METHODS: A chart review was performed of all patients diagnosed with endophthalmitis after keratoplasty at a tertiary hospital between January 1990 and January 2007. RESULTS: Endophthalmitis developed in 55 cases in the penetrating keratoplasty group and in no cases in the lamellar keratoplasty group. The majority of isolated microbes were gram-positive (86.3%). Only 1 eye retained a clear graft with 20/25 vision; other cases had ≤20/200 vision. Four of 13 eyes that underwent vitrectomy and 28 of 42 that did not undergo vitrectomy ended up with no light perception. One eye that underwent vitrectomy and 21 eyes that did not undergo vitrectomy were eviscerated. CONCLUSIONS: Post-keratoplasty endophthalmitis was associated with poor visual and structural outcome. Gram-positive organisms were the most common cause of infection. Early vitrectomy may reduce functional and structural damage associated with endophthalmitis.