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Eye (London, England) Nov 2022
Topics: Humans; Ophthalmologists; Macular Degeneration; Ophthalmology
PubMed: 35624304
DOI: 10.1038/s41433-022-02095-2 -
Journal of AAPOS : the Official... Aug 2020With the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the United States, more data is being reported on transmission, symptomatology, clinical course, and treatment of the... (Review)
Review
With the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the United States, more data is being reported on transmission, symptomatology, clinical course, and treatment of the virus. Research has focused on the trends and unique characteristics in at-risk populations, including pregnant women. This report summarizes the current data on considerations in pregnancy and postpartum period for mother and neonate to elucidate potential transmission risks for pediatric ophthalmologists.
Topics: COVID-19; Child; Disease Transmission, Infectious; Female; Humans; Ophthalmologists; Pandemics; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 32738497
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaapos.2020.07.003 -
Journal Francais D'ophtalmologie Jun 2020
Topics: Betacoronavirus; COVID-19; Coronavirus Infections; France; Humans; Ophthalmologists; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; SARS-CoV-2; Societies, Medical
PubMed: 32466832
DOI: 10.1016/j.jfo.2020.04.020 -
Journal of AAPOS : the Official... Aug 2020In recent months, the COVID-19 pandemic has threatened the financial viability of pediatric ophthalmology practices. To measure the economic impact, the American... (Review)
Review
In recent months, the COVID-19 pandemic has threatened the financial viability of pediatric ophthalmology practices. To measure the economic impact, the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) Socio-economic Committee surveyed current US members at the peak of the COVID shutdown, in April 2020. With a robust response rate, the survey portrays that some pediatric ophthalmology practices are ominously strained, if not irreparably harmed.
Topics: COVID-19; Child; Humans; Ophthalmologists; Ophthalmology; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; Social Isolation; Societies, Medical; United States
PubMed: 32730982
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaapos.2020.06.002 -
Eye (London, England) Jul 2020
Topics: Humans; Intensive Care Units; Ophthalmologists
PubMed: 32398836
DOI: 10.1038/s41433-020-0914-0 -
JAMA Ophthalmology Nov 2017Drug overdoses have become the number 1 cause of mortality in American adults 50 years and younger. Prescription opioid abuse is a growing concern that has garnered... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
IMPORTANCE
Drug overdoses have become the number 1 cause of mortality in American adults 50 years and younger. Prescription opioid abuse is a growing concern that has garnered widespread attention among policymakers and the general public.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the opioid prescribing patterns among ophthalmologists and elucidate their role in the prescription opioid abuse epidemic.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
In this observational cohort study, beneficiaries and their physicians were analyzed using 2013 to 2015 Medicare Part D Prescriber Data. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use Files for 2013, 2014, and 2015 were accessed. Analysis began in June 2017. Data were collected and analyzed regarding the prescribing patterns for opioid drugs (eg, number of prescriptions written including refills, number of days' supply, and prescriber rates) for all participating ophthalmologists.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The mean number of opioid prescriptions written annually by ophthalmologists; prescriber rates compared with all prescriptions written; and geographic distribution of opioid prescriptions written per ophthalmologist.
RESULTS
In 2013, 4167 of 19 615 ophthalmologists were women (21.2%). Consistently, most ophthalmologists (88%-89%) wrote 10 opioid prescriptions or fewer annually. Approximately 1% (0.94%-1.03%) of ophthalmologists wrote more than 100 prescriptions per year. On average, ophthalmologists wrote 7 opioid prescriptions per year (134 290 written annually by 19 638 physicians, on average) with a mean supply of 5 days. The 6 states with the highest volume of opioid prescriptions written annually per ophthalmologist were located in the southern United States.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
In general, ophthalmologists show discretion in their opioid prescribing patterns. The present opioid abuse epidemic should prompt physicians to consider revisiting their prescribing protocols given the high risk for dependency.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Prescriptions; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Incidence; Male; Medicare Part D; Ophthalmologists; Opioid-Related Disorders; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Prescription Drug Misuse; Prescription Drugs; Retrospective Studies; Survival Rate; United States
PubMed: 28983558
DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2017.4055 -
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology Apr 2022An essential part of the teaching-learning paradigm is assessment. It is one of the ways to achieve feedback for the various methods that have been used to impart a... (Review)
Review
An essential part of the teaching-learning paradigm is assessment. It is one of the ways to achieve feedback for the various methods that have been used to impart a particular skill. This is true of ophthalmology training, where various clinical and surgical skills are learned as part of the residency program. In preparation for residents to become proficient ophthalmologists, both formative and summative assessments are of paramount importance. At present, assessment is primarily summative in the form of a university examination, including theory and practical examinations that are conducted at the end of the three years of residency. A formative assessment can make course corrections early on, allowing for an improved understanding of the subject and the acquisition of clinical and surgical skills. Formative assessments also allow us to customize the teaching methodology considering individual residents' learning capabilities. In addition, formative assessments have the advantage of alleviating the stress of a "final" examination, which could sometimes result in a less-than-optimum performance by the residents. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adopt new teaching methods, which has led to the adoption of changes in assessment. In this regard, we discuss the different assessment tools available, their pros and cons, and how best these tools can be made applicable in the setting of an ophthalmology residency program.
Topics: COVID-19; Humans; Internship and Residency; Ophthalmologists; Ophthalmology; Pandemics
PubMed: 35325993
DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_1034_21 -
Irish Journal of Medical Science Feb 2023Brolucizumab is a novel humanised, single-chain, variable fragment inhibitor of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A for the treatment of neurovascular age-related... (Review)
Review
Brolucizumab is a novel humanised, single-chain, variable fragment inhibitor of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A for the treatment of neurovascular age-related macular degeneration. Brolucizumab gained US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency approval following the Phase III HAWK (NCT02307682) and HARRIER (NCT02434328) trials which compared brolucizumab with aflibercept, presenting a tolerable safety and favourable efficacy profile. The mean change (least squares [LS] mean ± standard error) in best-corrected visual acuity letters from baseline to week 96 in the HAWK trial was 5.9 ± 0.78 for brolucizumab (6 mg) versus 5.3 ± 0.78 for aflibercept, and in the HARRIER trial, 6.1 ± 0.73 (6 mg) for brolucizumab (6 mg) and 6.6 ± 0.73 for aflibercept. Within both trials, greater reductions were noted in the central subfield thickness from baseline to week 96 in the brolucizumab (6 mg) groups versus the aflibercept group. Subsequent post-marketing reports detailed intraocular inflammation (IOI) after brolucizumab treatment and in response an independent safety review committee conducted a post hoc data review. While comparable, the rate of brolucizumab-associated IOI was higher in the post hoc analysis than the trials (4.6% and 4.4%, respectively). Findings from trials and real-world data indicate there may be pre-defining risk factors that predispose patients to IOI following brolucizumab treatment. With a thorough understanding of IOI classification and best practice management, ophthalmologists can use brolucizumab confidently and, should a case arise, they should act quickly to prevent vision loss. Herein, we provide information and guidance to support clinical decision-making related to brolucizumab use.
Topics: Humans; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Ophthalmologists; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
PubMed: 35102497
DOI: 10.1007/s11845-022-02929-8 -
Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology... 2019Participation in continuing professional development (CPD) is part of lifelong learning required by ophthalmologists. Metacognition is a new area of educational... (Review)
Review
Participation in continuing professional development (CPD) is part of lifelong learning required by ophthalmologists. Metacognition is a new area of educational research. It is important because metacognitive skills are essential in medical education and likely to improve effectiveness of CPD activities. We systematically searched PubMed using the terms "metacognition" and "CPD" or "continuing medical education (CME)" and found only 5 articles. These articles were supplemented by a broadbased review of published literature including educational psychology, across the continuum of medical education. We summarize the techniques that may improve metacognition in CPD: awareness of and instruction in metacognition, awareness and mitigation of cognitive errors, appropriate needs analysis, and choosing appropriate activities. Metacognition and learning of new surgical techniques, the role of portfolios, and the role of the educator are described. The evidence is weak however, and it is usually extrapolated to CPD activities from other fields. Ophthalmologists may be able to improve their metacognitive skills in the CPD context, but the evidence supporting this is of low quality.
Topics: Education, Medical, Continuing; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Learning; Metacognition; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; Ophthalmologists; Ophthalmology
PubMed: 30596228
DOI: 10.22608/APO.2018280 -
BMJ Open Jul 2021Cataract surgery is very important to prevent blindness, but its productivity and efficiency in China are unknown. Our study aimed to evaluate the geographical... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Cataract surgery is very important to prevent blindness, but its productivity and efficiency in China are unknown. Our study aimed to evaluate the geographical distribution of cataract surgeons and prospectively identify the factors associated with the increased productivity in cataract surgery and efficiency in outpatient ophthalmic services in rural Chinese hospitals.
METHODS
Data were prospectively collated from various hospital datasets and the census registered by the geographical unit county. Prior to mapping, the geographical location data of counties were cross-linked with the equivalent ophthalmologist and service output data to create categories and map multiple data attributes. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed to characterise the data stratified by county. Linear regression analyses were used to explore the factors associated with the increased productivity/efficiency.
RESULTS
The ophthalmologists, surgical productivity of ophthalmologists and outpatient efficacy of ophthalmologists significantly varied across counties. During the period between 2016 and 2018, the median (IQR) change in surgical productivity of and outpatient efficacy of ophthalmologists were 31.627 (-3.33 to 29.94) and 118.08 (-132.30 to 740.89). In the simple regression analysis for predictors of a high productivity change, only the increased number of phaco machine had statistical significance (p=0.003). In addition, only the gross domestic product per capita in 2016 was associated with an increased improvement in efficiency of outpatient services (p=0.008).
CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that the ophthalmologist productivity and the efficiency of outpatient services were unequally geographically distributed, and their predictors were identified. Further studies to elucidate the extent of the problem and improve the health service delivery models are required.
Topics: Cataract Extraction; China; Hospitals, County; Humans; Ophthalmologists; Ophthalmology
PubMed: 34215595
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042326