Impact of Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program Scores and Surgical Volume on Subspecialty Fellowship Application in Ophthalmology Residency: Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract BackgroundOphthalmology residents take the Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP) exam annually, which provides percentile rank for multiple categories and the total score. In addition, ophthalmology residency training programs have multiple subspecialty rotat...

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Main Authors: Amanda Kay Hertel, Radwan S Ajlan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2024-11-01
Series:JMIR Medical Education
Online Access:https://mededu.jmir.org/2024/1/e60940
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author Amanda Kay Hertel
Radwan S Ajlan
author_facet Amanda Kay Hertel
Radwan S Ajlan
author_sort Amanda Kay Hertel
collection DOAJ
description Abstract BackgroundOphthalmology residents take the Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP) exam annually, which provides percentile rank for multiple categories and the total score. In addition, ophthalmology residency training programs have multiple subspecialty rotations with defined minimum procedure requirements. However, residents’ surgical volumes vary, with some residents exceeding their peers in specific subspecialty rotations. ObjectiveThis study aims to identify if there is a difference in OKAP examination scores and surgical volume exposure during ophthalmology residency training between nonfellowship and fellowship applicants and among various subspecialties. MethodsA retrospective review of OKAP scores and surgical procedure numbers of graduating residents in an accredited academic ophthalmology residency program in the Midwest United States was conducted. Data were collected from 2012 to 2022. ResultsA total of 31 residents were identified. Most residents decided to pursue fellowship training upon graduation (20/31, 65% residents), and the rest chose to practice comprehensive ophthalmology (11/31, 35% residents). A total of 18/31 residents had OKAP score reports available. The fellowship group outperformed the nonfellowship group in multiple subsections and the total exam (PPPPPPPP ConclusionsIn our program, residents pursuing fellowship training had higher OKAP scores on multiple sections and the total exam. There was no significant difference in the overall surgical volume averages between fellowship and nonfellowship groups, but few differences existed in subspecialty procedures among fellowship applicants. Larger multicenter studies are needed to clarify the relationship between OKAP scores and ophthalmology fellowship decisions nationwide.
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spelling doaj-art-fe0eac2aa89c4cfe97c4dedc012c063b2025-08-20T02:38:51ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Medical Education2369-37622024-11-0110e60940e6094010.2196/60940Impact of Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program Scores and Surgical Volume on Subspecialty Fellowship Application in Ophthalmology Residency: Retrospective Cohort StudyAmanda Kay Hertelhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-4578-2240Radwan S Ajlanhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-5048-327X Abstract BackgroundOphthalmology residents take the Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP) exam annually, which provides percentile rank for multiple categories and the total score. In addition, ophthalmology residency training programs have multiple subspecialty rotations with defined minimum procedure requirements. However, residents’ surgical volumes vary, with some residents exceeding their peers in specific subspecialty rotations. ObjectiveThis study aims to identify if there is a difference in OKAP examination scores and surgical volume exposure during ophthalmology residency training between nonfellowship and fellowship applicants and among various subspecialties. MethodsA retrospective review of OKAP scores and surgical procedure numbers of graduating residents in an accredited academic ophthalmology residency program in the Midwest United States was conducted. Data were collected from 2012 to 2022. ResultsA total of 31 residents were identified. Most residents decided to pursue fellowship training upon graduation (20/31, 65% residents), and the rest chose to practice comprehensive ophthalmology (11/31, 35% residents). A total of 18/31 residents had OKAP score reports available. The fellowship group outperformed the nonfellowship group in multiple subsections and the total exam (PPPPPPPP ConclusionsIn our program, residents pursuing fellowship training had higher OKAP scores on multiple sections and the total exam. There was no significant difference in the overall surgical volume averages between fellowship and nonfellowship groups, but few differences existed in subspecialty procedures among fellowship applicants. Larger multicenter studies are needed to clarify the relationship between OKAP scores and ophthalmology fellowship decisions nationwide.https://mededu.jmir.org/2024/1/e60940
spellingShingle Amanda Kay Hertel
Radwan S Ajlan
Impact of Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program Scores and Surgical Volume on Subspecialty Fellowship Application in Ophthalmology Residency: Retrospective Cohort Study
JMIR Medical Education
title Impact of Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program Scores and Surgical Volume on Subspecialty Fellowship Application in Ophthalmology Residency: Retrospective Cohort Study
title_full Impact of Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program Scores and Surgical Volume on Subspecialty Fellowship Application in Ophthalmology Residency: Retrospective Cohort Study
title_fullStr Impact of Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program Scores and Surgical Volume on Subspecialty Fellowship Application in Ophthalmology Residency: Retrospective Cohort Study
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program Scores and Surgical Volume on Subspecialty Fellowship Application in Ophthalmology Residency: Retrospective Cohort Study
title_short Impact of Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program Scores and Surgical Volume on Subspecialty Fellowship Application in Ophthalmology Residency: Retrospective Cohort Study
title_sort impact of ophthalmic knowledge assessment program scores and surgical volume on subspecialty fellowship application in ophthalmology residency retrospective cohort study
url https://mededu.jmir.org/2024/1/e60940
work_keys_str_mv AT amandakayhertel impactofophthalmicknowledgeassessmentprogramscoresandsurgicalvolumeonsubspecialtyfellowshipapplicationinophthalmologyresidencyretrospectivecohortstudy
AT radwansajlan impactofophthalmicknowledgeassessmentprogramscoresandsurgicalvolumeonsubspecialtyfellowshipapplicationinophthalmologyresidencyretrospectivecohortstudy