EVALUATION OF THE ATTITUDE OF MEDICAL UNIVERSITY TEACHERS TOWARDS THE NEED FOR STUDENTS TO ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF GLAUCOMA

Abstract

Purpose. To investigate the opinion of medical university teachers regarding the need for medical students to study glaucoma and the possibility of future ophthalmologists to obtain knowledge of glaucoma diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Materials and Methods. Survey data study using a questionnaire developed by us for teachers of four medical universities of Ukraine. The work used bibliographic, statistical and analytical methods. Results. When asked about the need for future doctors of various specialties to have knowledge of mod- ern approaches to organizing preventive work to prevent the development of glaucoma, the basics and modern approaches of treatment of glaucoma, the need for knowledge of modern approaches to prevent complications of glaucoma and prevent its progression, and modern approaches to identifying factors that contribute to the develop- ment of glaucoma, more than 75% of the surveyed teachers answered affirmatively. However, only 57% of those surveyed answered affirmatively that the amount of information provided to future family doctors is sufficient for this. Among the mechanisms for future ophthalmologists to gain competence in the organization of ophthalmological care and prevention of open-angle glaucoma, the teachers noted the importance of use of medical care standards and local clinical protocols (94% and 95%, respectively). However, more than 22% of respondents answered that clinical protocols for managing patients with glaucoma were not included in curricula of future ophthalmologists. More than 45% of surveyed medical did not teach future ophthalmologists the Order of the Ministry of Health No. 939 “Glaucoma” and the Guideline of the European Glaucoma Society. Conclusions. Despite the fact that the majority of the surveyed teachers believed that knowledge of glaucoma treatment and prevention was important for future doctors, only half of the respondents considered the amount of information provided in the educational program sufficient for medical students to obtain the necessary knowledge about modern approaches to the organization of ophthalmological care and prevention of glaucoma. There is a dis- crepancy between the importance of studying protocols and standards for the provision of medical and preventive care, and the real indicator of students’ study of modern domestic and European orders and protocols.