Extended Course: Primary Care Ophthalmology [HI4220] GPs perform over 2 million primary eye consultations per year. Are you equipped to deal with this volume of work in the ophthalmology domain? In this extended course, students will develop advanced knowledge and skills in the history, assessment and management of a variety of eye conditions in primary care and will be able to apply the knowledge and skills learnt within the course to the clinical setting in which they practice in an interactive one-day group workshop with ophthalmologists. Course estimate:  24+ hours of online learning, plus a one-day practical skills workshop, personal study time and assessment, for a total of approximately 50+ hours. This course is the same as The University of Queensland course GENP7006 Primary Care Ophthalmology in General Practice in the Master of Medicine (General Practice).  Satisfactory completion results in a Statement of Satisfactory Completion from The University of Queensland School of Medicine and is recognised for credit toward the Master of Medicine award program*.

This course offers GPs systematic frameworks for history taking, assessment and management of people presenting with an eye condition or symptom in the general practice setting, and additional skill components in slit lamp use and retinal assessment. Common chronic eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, primary open angle glaucoma, and macular degeneration will be featured and acute conditions such as eye trauma and effective foreign body removal, and management of the acute red eye and eye pain will be addressed. Finally, the appropriate equipment in primary care to maximise diagnostic confidence will be discussed. Students will develop advanced knowledge and skills in the history, assessment and management of a variety of eye conditions in primary care and will be able to apply the knowledge and skills learnt within the course to the clinical setting in which they practice in an interactive one-day group workshop with ophthalmologists.

Teaching and Learning Modes
Students in this course will have access to 12 online tutorials throughout the year. These online tutorials will have didactic and interactive components. Students are expected to spend 1.5-2hrs working through each tutorial plus additional study time. Students will be expected to read and listen to lectures, read additional material outlined in the tutorials, such as articles and texts, and contribute to peer discussions.
Students will also actively participate in a one-day practical skills workshop conducted by ophthalmologists. This workshop is offered in May and November.

Assessment details

1. Online Learning Log Book to be completed progressively throughout the course and submitted online or at the workshop (pass/fail)
2. Examination testing theoretical knowledge to be conducted at the beginning of the workshop (50% of assessment)
3. Competency assessment of clinical skills to be held at one-day workshop (pass/fail)
4. Assignment to be submitted after workshop (50% of assessment)

The assessment methods will allow the student to demonstrate proficiency in both theoretical and practical aspects of the course as outlined in the learning objectives.

*NOTE: If you intend to seek credit for this course, and you intend to complete more than two courses in the Master of Medicine (General Practice) program through UQ Health Insitu, seek advice from the Program Manager as some administrative pre-conditions apply.

For further information about the scope of the program, click on the links below.