Jacqueline M Kirkman, Ryan J Wood-Bradley, Sharon A Bentley, Craig A Woods, James A Armitage
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Clinical relevance: A variety of training opportunities is key to ensuring optometry graduates are competent to practice optometry at its fullest scope. It is therefore important to understand how the geographic location of placements contributes to the volume and diversity of clinical experience gained by students.
Background: Research suggests optometry students and rural-based supervisors believe that rural placements offer students exposure to a wider variety of clinical experiences compared with metropolitan placements. However, to date there has been no formal analysis of whether students on rural placement gain a more diverse experience. This study aimed to compare the clinical experience gained by optometry students on rural versus metropolitan placement.
Methods: Clinical experiences recorded in student electronic logbooks from 203 Deakin University optometry students undertaking a 26-week clinical placement were analysed. Differences between the numbers of patients seen, skills performed, and ocular conditions managed by students were compared by geographic location.
Results: Students experienced 12.2% more patient encounters on a rural placement than on metropolitan placement (mean ± SD, 341 ± 123 vs 304 ± 109, p < 0.002). On average, during rural placement, students encountered 49.6% more patients presenting with sore eyes (56.1 ± 37.5 vs 37.5 ± 24.6, p < 0.001) and 61.0% more instances of urgent, potentially sight-threatening eye conditions (8.5 ± 6.4 vs 5.9 ± 4.9, p < 0.001). Students on metropolitan placement encountered 33.2% more patients presenting for reasons related to contact lenses (26.1 ± 14.7 vs 19.6 ± 11.2, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Students encountered a greater total count of conditions on rural placement than metropolitan placements. However, there were some opportunities metropolitan placements offered which were limited on rural placements. It is important students are exposed to practice in both rural and metropolitan locations to ensure a breadth of clinical experience is encountered.
临床相关性：各种培训机会是确保验光毕业生有能力在最大范围内实践验光的关键。因此，了解实习的地理位置如何影响学生获得临床经验的数量和多样性是很重要的。背景：研究表明，验光学生和农村的导师认为，与城市实习相比，农村实习为学生提供了更广泛的临床经验。然而，到目前为止，还没有正式的分析表明，在农村实习的学生是否能获得更多样化的经历。本研究旨在比较农村验光学生与城市验光学生的临床经验。方法：对203名迪肯大学验光专业学生进行为期26周的临床实习，记录在学生电子日志中的临床经历进行分析。按地理位置比较患者就诊人数、技能执行和学生眼病管理之间的差异。结果：农村实习的学生比城市实习的学生多遇到12.2%的病人（平均±标准差，341±123 vs 304±109,p p p p）。结论：农村实习的学生比城市实习的学生遇到更多的情况。不过，也有一些机会是在城市安置的，而农村安置的机会有限。重要的是让学生接触到农村和大都市地区的实践，以确保他们获得广泛的临床经验。
期刊介绍：
Clinical and Experimental Optometry is a peer reviewed journal listed by ISI and abstracted by PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Citation Index and Current Contents. It publishes original research papers and reviews in clinical optometry and vision science. Debate and discussion of controversial scientific and clinical issues is encouraged and letters to the Editor and short communications expressing points of view on matters within the Journal''s areas of interest are welcome. The Journal is published six times annually.
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