OPHTHALMOSCOPY- A USEFUL BUT NEGLECTED SKILL BY THE NON- OPHTHALMOLOGISTS DOCTORS

Authors

  • Dr Ibrar Hussain Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar
  • Danish Zafar Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar
  • Sadia Sethi Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar
  • Muhammad Arif Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar

Keywords:

Ophthalmoscopy, Ocular fundoscopy, pupillary dilatation

Abstract

Objectives: Ophthalmoscopy is considered an integral part of physical examination of patients in many disciplines of medicine. A number of life threatening conditions may be revealed by ophthalmoscopy and hence can be dealt in time. The purpose of this study is to assess the views of hospital doctors on ophthalmoscopy and their ability to examine the ocular fundi and diagnose abnormalities.
Study design: A questionnaire based cross-sectional study.
Setting: Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar, Pakistan, where study lasted from June 2007 to September 2007.
Patients and Methods: An indigenous questionnaire was designed and distributed among non-ophthalmologists doctors of different specialties of the hospital. The subjects were asked to rank the frequency of using ophthalmoscope and difficulties facing in using it. A list of common ophthalmoscopic findings was also given in questionnaire and doctors were asked about their recognition using ophthalmoscope.
Results: A total of 71 non-ophthalmologist doctors were included in the study. Twenty four (33.8%) belonged to medical and allied specialties, 39 (54.9%) to surgical and allied specialties, six (8.5%) to paediatrics and two (2.8%) to emergency department. Only 28 (39.4%) had ophthalmoscope at their work place, 9 (32%) of which were non functional. Only 14 (19.7%) use ophthalmoscope daily, 26 (36.7%) occasionally and 31 (43.7%) do not use it at all. Only 20 (50%) of the 40 doctors who perform ophthalmoscopy, dilate pupil and the rest do not. Regarding competency of using ophthalmoscope only 22 (31.2%) doctors were confident in ophthalmoscopy, 17 (24%) had difficulty in focusing fundus, 22 (31.2%) had difficulty in recognizing findings and 10 (14.7%) did not know its use. Almost all (96%) mentioned the need of a training course to improve their skill of ophthalmoscopy.

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Published

31-12-2010

How to Cite

Hussain, D. I., Zafar, D., Sethi, S., & Arif, M. (2010). OPHTHALMOSCOPY- A USEFUL BUT NEGLECTED SKILL BY THE NON- OPHTHALMOLOGISTS DOCTORS. Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal, 60(4). Retrieved from https://pafmj.org/PAFMJ/article/view/1511

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Section

Original Articles