Effects of OPSIM Simulator Training on Satisfaction in Ophthalmic Education

Purpose: To evaluate the use of OPSIM simulator in phacoemulsification by measuring self-confidence and satisfaction among ophthalmology residents and ophthalmologists. Methods: In this qualitative study, a scientific collaboration was conducted between the Ophthalmic Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran and the Atieh Pardazan Sharif Company to develop the OPSIM simulator. In this regard, 15 junior ophthalmology residents and three ophthalmology professors were trained by this simulator for phacoemulsification surgery. Afterwards, all participants were interviewed to measure their satisfaction. Findings interpretation was performed using the content analysis based on Granheim method. The codes, categories and themes were explored by inductive process in which the researchers moved from specific to general concepts. Results: The participants experiences identified a number of advantages of OPSIM simulator in education ofphacoemulsification which is correspondingly associated with ophthalmology residents satisfaction, their selfconfidence and self- reflection. Reduction surgical complication, eye hand coordination, improvement of time management, high level of motivation, improvement the proficiency level and reduce trials in the operating room were reported. Conclusion: Our results showed that OPSIM simulator can applied as an effective educational tool in ophthalmic practice accompanying with other common educational approaches.