Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the educational needs in geriatric care among
practicing and training eye care providers at a single academic institution, the Flaum
Eye Institute, at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Methods Data were collected using a voluntary and anonymous electronic survey that was distributed
to 35 training and practicing eye care providers.
Results Of the 35 distributed surveys, 27 (77%) were returned. Respondents included 6 residents-in-training
and 17 practicing providers, based on those who reported demographics. Overall, respondents
reported that most of their patients were older than 65 years (mean, 66.4%). Notably,
63% of providers felt they received very little to no prior education in geriatric
care. Only 46.4% reported having a moderate level of interest in geriatric issues.
While respondents reported high confidence levels in many geriatric domains, they
reported moderate to low confidence levels in several others, including conducting
cognitive and functional assessments, assessing and reducing the risk for falls and
driving accidents, recognizing depression, and understanding the roles of long-term
care and home services, social supports, and geriatric rehabilitation. Differences
were also observed in confidence levels between residents-in-training and practicing
providers in several geriatric domains.
Conclusion At this single academic institution, current practicing and training ophthalmologists
reported having limited prior education in geriatric care and identified many opportunities
for geriatric education. While larger-scale studies need to be conducted to produce
more generalizable results, this pilot study serves as a guide to augment geriatric
education and training of ophthalmologists and improve the quality of eye care for
the rapidly growing aging U.S. population.
Keywords
geriatric education - continuing medical education - ophthalmology resident education
