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.

Serous Retinal Detachment in Dome-shaped Macula with 7 Years Follow-up.

Dome-shaped macula (DSM) was first described by Gaucher et al. as a convex protrusion of macula within a staphyloma in highly myopic eyes that cause visual impairment associated with serous foveal detachment (SFD). We describe a patient with persistent SFD in DSM documented by serial spectral domain optical coherence tomography for 7 years with stable vision.

Full-Thickness Macular Hole Secondary to High-Power Handheld Blue Laser: Natural History and Management Outcomes.

PURPOSE: To report the natural history and management outcomes of full-thickness macular hole (MH) caused by momentary exposure to a high-power handheld blue laser device and highlight the dangers of such easily available devices. DESIGN: Retrospective consecutive case series. METHODS: A chart review of all patients presenting with full-thickness MH from exposure to blue-light high-powered lasers from January 2012 to May 2014 at 2 institutions was performed. Evaluation included a full ophthalmic examination, fundus photography, macular spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and fundus fluorescein angiography. The main and secondary outcomes were MH closure and final visual acuity, respectively. RESULTS: There were 17 eyes of 17 patients with full-thickness MH. Best-corrected Snellen visual acuity (BCVA) at presentation ranged from 20/30 to 2/200 (mean: 20/210). The MH minimum diameter ranged from 168 µm to 620 µm (mean: 351 µm). Fourteen eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy, internal limiting membrane peeling, and gas or silicone oil tamponade. Eleven of the 14 (78.6%) operated eyes had complete closure of the macular hole. Of the 3 unoperated eyes, only 1 eye with the smallest macular hole (minimum diameter: 168 µm) closed spontaneously with observation. Final BCVA in all cases had a mean of 20/62 (range: 20/20-4/200). CONCLUSION: Full-thickness MH can result from momentary exposure to high-power handheld laser devices. While spontaneous closure may occur in rare cases, most cases require early surgical intervention. Vitrectomy may be successful in closing the macular hole with visual acuity improvement in most of the cases.