PURPOSE: To create a database of Spanish ophthalmologists mainly dedicated to retinal pathology care, describing their training period characteristics and their daily activity (clinical and surgical). METHODS: A postal questionnaire was sent to 504 possible retinologists identified through the information supplied by the Spanish Ophthalmological Society and the Spanish Vitreous-Retina Society, with a minimum of 3 retinologists per Autonomous Region. RESULTS: 267 (52.9% of the sample population) responses were collected and processed. Most of the respondents had started their residency after 1980 (82.4%). Ninety-four percent had received specific training in retinal pathology, mostly during the residency period (82.1%) and from more experienced colleagues (62.9%). Official fellowships were held in a minority of cases (around 12%). Twelve percent of retinologists performed retinal surgery only, 14.6% performed anterior segment surgery, and 60.7% performed both types of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Despite not having taken into consideration non-response bias, this study provides the first reported data on the professional profile of Spanish retinologists.
PURPOSE: To create a database of Spanish ophthalmologists mainly dedicated to retinal pathology care, describing their training period characteristics and their daily activity (clinical and surgical). METHODS: A postal questionnaire was sent to 504 possible retinologists identified through the information supplied by the Spanish Ophthalmological Society and the Spanish Vitreous-Retina Society, with a minimum of 3 retinologists per Autonomous Region. RESULTS: 267 (52.9% of the sample population) responses were collected and processed. Most of the respondents had started their residency after 1980 (82.4%). Ninety-four percent had received specific training in retinal pathology, mostly during the residency period (82.1%) and from more experienced colleagues (62.9%). Official fellowships were held in a minority of cases (around 12%). Twelve percent of retinologists performed retinal surgery only, 14.6% performed anterior segment surgery, and 60.7% performed both types of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Despite not having taken into consideration non-response bias, this study provides the first reported data on the professional profile of Spanish retinologists.
Authors: J Carlos Pastor; Itziar Fernández; Jimena Rojas; Rosa Coco; Maria R Sanabria; Enrique Rodríguez-de la Rúa; Diego Sánchez; Carmen Valverde; Anna Sala-Puigdollers Journal: Clin Ophthalmol Date: 2011-04-21