Matching fundus photographs of classmates. An informal competition to promote learning and practice of direct ophthalmoscopy among medical students

Abstract

Purpose: To present a new approach for teaching direct ophthalmoscopy to medical students.

Methods: At the University of Bergen, four consecutive classes of fourth-year medical students complete a required 9-week ophthalmology course every year. In the present project, one fundus photograph was taken of each student. The photographs were randomly numbered, printed on A4 glossy photo paper, and displayed on the classroom wall. Each student was given a form to fill in the fellow students’ names matching the number of the fundus photographs. They were encouraged to practise direct ophthalmoscopy on their classmates outside formal teaching hours. At the end of the course, they returned the filled-in forms, and those with the highest number of correct matches between the fundus photographs and fellow students received a reward.

Results: Between 2011 and 2013, 239 students completed their ophthalmology course. Of these, 220 students (92%) voluntarily participated in the project. The mean score was 70% correct matches between fundus photographs and fellow students (range 7 ‐ 100%). The students’ course evaluations were overall positive.

Conclusions: We recommend the use of peer fundus photographs in the context of a learning competition as a simple, inexpensive, and effective way to improve teaching of direct ophthalmoscopy.

Declaration of interest

None.