Association between Confidence in Performing Direct Ophthalmoscopy and Retinoscopy with Eye and Hand Dominance: A Cross-sectional Survey Study
Self-Confidence with Ophthalmoscopy and Retinoscopy
Abstract
Direct ophthalmoscopy and retinoscopy are essential clinical skills in optometry training that must be mastered before students progress into their clinical year. Thus, assessing their confidence in these skills’ acquisition is crucial as they require both cognitive understanding and practical proficiency. The purpose of this study was to determine the confidence of preclinical year optometry students in performing direct ophthalmoscopy and retinoscopy, with consideration of eye and hand dominancy. The participants consisted of students enrolled in the undergraduate optometry program in their preclinical year. Confidence levels in performing direct ophthalmoscopy and retinoscopy were assessed using validated questionnaires. Confidence in direct ophthalmoscopy was higher when performed with the dominant eye (72.1%) compared to the non-dominant eye (25.6%), and with the dominant hand (74.4%) compared to the non-dominant hand (27.9%). There were highly significant associations between confidence in direct ophthalmoscopy and both hand dominancy (χ2(1) = 18.615, p < 0.001) and eye dominancy (χ2(1) = 18.615, p < 0.001). Similarly, a low proportion of students reported confidence when retinoscopy was performed with their non-dominant eye (28%) and dominant hand (22%), with highly significant associations between confidence level and hand dominancy (χ2(1) = 17.993, p < 0.001) and eye dominancy (χ2(1) = 14.492, p < 0.001). Fewer than 50% of students were confident in discriminating retinoscopy reflexes associated with astigmatism. In conclusion, a large proportion of preclinical students lacked confidence in performing direct ophthalmoscopy and retinoscopy using their non-dominant hand and eye. Clinical teaching should nurture ambidexterity among preclinical students to enhance confidence in performing these crucial clinical skills.
Keywords :
Clinical skills; confidence; direct ophthalmoscopy; eye dominance; hand dominance; retinoscopy,
Abstrak
Oftalmoskopi langsung dan retinoskopi merupakan kemahiran klinikal asas dalam latihan optometri yang perlu dikuasai sebelum pelajar melangkah ke tahun klinikal. Oleh itu, penilaian keyakinan pelajar dalam kemahiran ini sangat penting kerana ia memerlukan pemahaman kognitif serta kemahiran praktikal. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan tahap keyakinan pelajar optometri praklinikal dalam melaksanakan oftalmoskopi langsung dan retinoskopi dengan mengambil kira faktor mata dan tangan dominan. Populasi kajian terdiri daripada pelajar program ijazah sarjana muda optometri dalam tahun praklinikal. Tahap keyakinan dalam melaksanakan oftalmoskopi langsung dan retinoskopi dinilai menggunakan soal selidik yang telah disahkan. Keyakinan dalam melakukan oftalmoskopi langsung adalah lebih tinggi apabila dilakukan dengan mata dominan (72.1%) berbanding mata bukan dominan (25.6%), serta dengan tangan dominan (74.4%) berbanding tangan bukan dominan (27.9%). Terdapat hubungan yang sangat signifikan antara tahap keyakinan dalam oftalmoskopi langsung dengan kedua-dua dominasi tangan (χ2(1) = 18.615, p < 0.001) dan dominasi mata (χ2(1) = 18.615, p < 0.001). Peratusan pelajar yang tidak yakin ketika menjalankan retinoskopi dengan mata bukan dominan dan dengan tangan bukan dominan adalah rendah (masing-masing 28% dan 22%), dengan hubungan yang signifikan antara tahap keyakinan dengan dominasi tangan (χ2(1) = 17.993, p < 0.001) dan dominasi mata (χ2(1) = 14.492, p < 0.001). Kurang daripada 50% pelajar yakin untuk membezakan refleks retinoskopi yang berkaitan dengan astigmatisme. Kesimpulannya, sebahagian besar pelajar praklinikal kurang yakin untuk melaksanakan oftalmoskopi langsung dan retinoskopi menggunakan tangan dan mata yang bukan dominan. Pengajaran klinikal seharusnya perlu memupuk ambideksteriti dalam kalangan pelajar praklinikal bagi meningkatkan keyakinan dalam melaksanakan kemahiran klinikal yang penting ini.
Kata Kunci :
Kemahiran klinikal; keyakinan; mata dominan; oftalmoskopi langsung; retinoskopi; tangan dominan,
