A comparative study on the effectiveness of interactive versus non-interactive optic disc photograph training modules for glaucoma diagnosis among ophthalmology residents
Creators: name: Tanjirawatana, Thanatcha
name: Ratanawongphaibul, Kitiya
name: Manassakorn, Anita
name: Pathanapitoon, Kessara
name: Kasemsup, Tharnsook
name: Kiddee, Weerawat
name: Rojananuangnit, Kulawan
name: Tantisevi, Visanee
name: Chansangpetch, Sunee
name: Itthipanichpong, Rath
name: Rojanapongpun, Prin
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Cancer
subject: Science Policy

description: Early glaucoma detection through accurate optic disc interpretation is essential but challenging for ophthalmology residents. This study evaluated the effectiveness of interactive (ITM) versus non-interactive (NITM) web-based training modules in improving optic disc interpretation skills for glaucoma diagnosis among ophthalmology residents. Ninety-six ophthalmology residents from five training centers in Thailand were randomized into ITM or NITM groups. Both groups completed pre- and post-tests containing 30 standardized optic disc photographs and used self-study modules with 100 optic disc images obtained from the CLARUS™ 500 over two months. The ITM group received immediate feedback on their answers, while the NITM group only viewed the correct answers without interaction. Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in scores after training (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.001), with no significant difference in improvement between groups (<i>P</i> = 0.231). Third-year residents in the ITM group showed greater score improvement compared to first-year residents (<i>P</i> = 0.009). Satisfaction scores were comparable between groups (<i>P</i> = 0.416). The findings suggest that both interactive and non-interactive web-based training modules improve ophthalmology residents’ ability to evaluate glaucomatous optic discs, though no statistically significant difference was found between the two training approaches. Both interactive and non-interactive self-study modules enhanced the efficiency of interpreting glaucomatous disc photographs among ophthalmology residents. Nevertheless, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups. Our study aimed to explore innovative methods for training ophthalmology residents in diagnosing glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness. By using optic disc photographs, residents learned to identify key signs of glaucoma, a critical skill for early disease detection. This study compared two types of online training modules: an interactive module that provides immediate feedback on each response, and a non-interactive module where answers are revealed at the end of each session. Both training methods improved residents' diagnostic skills, with the interactive module proving particularly beneficial for advanced learners. These findings suggest that both online modules could enhance medical training for ophthalmology residents, better preparing future doctors to diagnose glaucoma and ultimately benefiting patient care.