Development Strategies in Medical Education

Introduction: Ophthalmology education within medical curricula plays a vital role in shaping students' knowledge and practical skills related to ocular diseases. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of medical interns at Zahedan University of Medical Sciences concerning eye examinations and ocular diseases in 2023.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 96 medical interns at Zahedan University of Medical Sciences in 2023. A researcher-developed questionnaire, comprising 10 questions related to eye examinations and ocular diseases, was employed. The instrument's validity and reliability were established with a content validity index of 90%, a content validity ratio of 60%, and a Cronbach's alpha of 0.72. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 24, employing descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, and frequency percentage) and inferential statistics, including the chi-square test.
Results: The mean scores for the ophthalmology section were 16.93 ± 1.68 for male interns and 16.90 ± 1.94 for female interns. Overall, 7.3% of the students demonstrated good knowledge, 43.8% average knowledge, and 49% poor knowledge. No statistically significant difference was found between knowledge level and either ophthalmology section score (p = 0.957) or gender (p = 0.806).
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that medical interns demonstrated a low level of knowledge regarding ocular diseases. This knowledge deficit should be considered a significant concern by administrators, necessitating a review and revision of ophthalmology education for medical students.