Continuing optometric education

Abstract

Approximately one‐third of the total number of optometrists practising in New Zealand participated in an hour‐long session during which their views of continuing education were solicited using a questionnaire. These optometrists felt that continuing education was a necessary part of professional life from the time of entry into practice until (and even beyond) retirement. The majority felt that pressure should be brought to bear on optometrists to participate in continuing education but that compulsory continuing education in any form was not desirable.The most effective continuing education was said to be that gained from interactions with colleagues. The least effective method was said to be lectures which reported the results of research that could not be applied directly to clinical practice. The most commonly reported new general skills learned since graduation were management skills and ‘people’ (communication) skills. The most commonly reported new optometric skills learned since graduation were contact lens related and were learned in optometric practice and from interaction with colleagues.Significant differences were found between groups of practitioners with regard to the perceived importance of continuing education. Continuing education was held in higher regard by optometrists with more years in practice, female optometrists, optometrists working more hours per week, and practitioners located outside cities or suburbs. The optometrists participating in the survey were prepared to spend about two hours a week on continuing education during normal work hours and about two weekends or one week away from the practice each year pursuing continuing education. The implications of these findings for planners of continuing optometric education are discussed.