EyeWorld Asia-Pacific December 2014 Issue

52 EWAP NEWS & OPINION December 2014 by Chiles Aedam R. Samaniego EyeWorld Asia-Pacific Senior Staff Writer Ophthalmic education in the New Media Age Current technology has significantly altered the way we interact with information, and so also the way we teach, learn, and innovate “ M edical education has changed a lot since the days when I was a medical student,” said Abhay Vasavada, MD , Director, Iladevi Cataract & IOL Research Centre (ICIRC), Raghudeep Eye Clinic, Ahmedabad, India. “With the advent of the internet and easy accessibility of online and offline resources, most things are only a click away.” “Learning is no longer limited to the physical availability of institutions or universities in a particular city or region,” said Y.C. Lee, DPMP, FRCS, FRCOphth, FAMM , Chairman, Lee Eye Centre, Ipoh, Malaysia. “Internet technology has enabled blended learning, discussions and exchange of information in a virtual environment or gaining knowledge via learning management systems, media, podcasts, blogs, Facebook, etc.” Various resources such as YouTube and Eyetube as well as forums such as those provided on the websites of international ophthalmology societies such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), and the Asia-Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (APACRS) provide platforms for discussion among ophthalmologists from all over the world online. “Many ophthalmic institutions and organizations have employed these digital portals to facilitate the exchange of information, to assess and monitor the progress of participants and to collate data,” said Dr. Lee. “Everyone now has much better access to the basic and clinical research being conducted in the world,” said Dr. Vasavada. “It is particularly relevant in countries which previously had limited access to international updates and where financial as well as other constraints often did not allow the ophthalmologists to frequently attend international meetings.” “It is certainly an easy and convenient way for ophthalmologists and medical practitioners to stay current, to network and to consult with colleagues,” said Dr. Lee. Reinvigorating research The same technology that has improved access has engendered a torrential flow of information. “More and more young ophthalmologists, even those in solo private practices are now taking up clinical research, a trend that was practically nonexistent back when I started my practice,” said Dr. Vasavada. “There is much easier access and exposure to research right from the early stages of medical education. A lot of emphasis is being given by ophthalmic certification bodies as well as societies to publications and research work.” “There is undoubtedly an increase trend in the emphasis on research,” agreed Dr. Lee. He attributed this increase to active encouragement in educational institutions, with involvement in research improving both the chances of acceptance at good universities and, later on, employment opportunities. Moreover, he added, “the trend of practicing evidence-based medicine encourages research projects not only to collate data but to verify hypotheses and concepts.” “Recently, guidelines for diagnosis and treatment for various diseases have been made based on evidences with high reliability such as randomized clinical trials and daily clinical treatments are ruled by these guidelines,” said Shiro Amano, MD, PhD , consultant, Inouye Eye Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. “Thus, the importance of such researches as RCT is increasing.” This reinvigoration of scientific research does pose some challenges, for teachers and students alike. “The very rapid pace of growth of new knowledge in areas of investigations and treatment makes the learning of medicine ever more challenging,” said Ian Yeo, MD , associate professor and senior consultant, Vitreo-Retinal Service, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore. “While we can say the basics of medicine have not changed…in reality the newer information available especially from the myriad of very well conducted clinical trials and epidemiological data makes much of what we know obsolete unless we actively keep up to date.” Publishers of medical literature, on their part, can now afford to (and should) be more careful about what they publish. “It is progressively difficult to perform small scale research or to publish anecdotal reports, journals are much more discerning of the information they want in their journals,” said Dr. Yeo. “This is good for the reader as we want to be sure that what we read has been peer reviewed and is meaningful for consumption. The importance in research is self evident, we would not progress to where we are today without the spirit of inquiry or the urge to do better for the patient.” The patients themselves constitute a whole new front in terms of challenging their doctors to do better. “Patients expectations have changed too and they expect their doctors to be up to date,” said Dr. Yeo. “We have to be as patients come armed with information they have garnered from sources like the internet.” “Textbooks” The learning experience for today’s students is certainly different from that of students as recently as 20 years ago, only a few years into the Internet Age, when the average household had to make do with a dial-up connection to access the internet—if it could access the internet at all. “We are living in the digital age. Textbooks are often obsolete the moment they come to print and physical libraries will soon lose their relevance in medical education,” said Dr. Yeo. “The value of digital media is the ability for the information to be constantly updated and remain relevant. There again lies the challenge for medical student, residents and practicing faculty alike, how do I keep up?” “Looking at the recent trends in medical education, medical education is becoming more and more dynamic than textbook- based,” said Dr. Vasavada. “Having said that, there is still continued on page 54