Claire Jackson1, Inge De Jong, Philip J Schuluter. 1. Mater University of Queensland, Centre for General Practice and Primary Health Care Integration, Mater Hospital, Queensland.
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate the impact of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)/Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists National General Practitioner Eye Skills Workshop on Queensland participants reported medium and long term ocular practice pattern. METHOD: Two questionnaires were administered to all Queensland workshop participants (n = 121), six months and > 12 months following the workshop, to assess self reported ocular practice pattern. RESULTS: The response rate was identical for both the first and second questionnaire with 78 (64%) GPs returning completed forms on each occasion. Results indicate a highly significant increase in the proportion of GPs having access to dilating drops in the practice, using a systematic approach to eye assessment, and using the ocular kinetic perimetry (OKP) chart (p < 0.001), performing paediatric vision testing (p = 0.002) and incising chalazion (p = 0.01) following the workshop. General practitioners also reported a significant increase in the use of dilatation and fundoscopy in all clinical areas surveyed (p < 0.001). The change in dilatation and fundoscopy practice found at six months was sustained at > 12 months. CONCLUSION: Our study has demonstrated the National GP Eye Skills Workshop to be associated with significant and sustained practice change in key areas of ocular assessment in general practice. A key ingredient in the workshop's success was the focus on experiential learning, intra-session practice rehearsal and use of local opinion leaders.
AIM: To evaluate the impact of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)/Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists National General Practitioner Eye Skills Workshop on Queensland participants reported medium and long term ocular practice pattern. METHOD: Two questionnaires were administered to all Queensland workshop participants (n = 121), six months and > 12 months following the workshop, to assess self reported ocular practice pattern. RESULTS: The response rate was identical for both the first and second questionnaire with 78 (64%) GPs returning completed forms on each occasion. Results indicate a highly significant increase in the proportion of GPs having access to dilating drops in the practice, using a systematic approach to eye assessment, and using the ocular kinetic perimetry (OKP) chart (p < 0.001), performing paediatric vision testing (p = 0.002) and incising chalazion (p = 0.01) following the workshop. General practitioners also reported a significant increase in the use of dilatation and fundoscopy in all clinical areas surveyed (p < 0.001). The change in dilatation and fundoscopy practice found at six months was sustained at > 12 months. CONCLUSION: Our study has demonstrated the National GP Eye Skills Workshop to be associated with significant and sustained practice change in key areas of ocular assessment in general practice. A key ingredient in the workshop's success was the focus on experiential learning, intra-session practice rehearsal and use of local opinion leaders.