Development of a learning target index for ophthalmology

Background Future developments of teaching in human medicine and ophthalmology emphasize the need of a learning target index to standardize and modernize education at German universities. The first measure is the elaboration of a learning target index of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG). Method The masterplan medicine 2020 has been passed by German authorities in 2017 to restructure studies in human medicine at German universities according to a concept of skill-related learning objectives rather than based on factual knowledge. The executive committee of the DOG, together with all subsections, accepted the first version of the learning target index elaborated by the authors on 30 May 2016. Results The learning target index for ophthalmology encompasses 25 chapters, whereby chapter 1 is dedicated to the investigation methods and treatment. Chapters 2-23 deal with the diseases and are subdivided according to definition and leading symptoms, pathogenesis as well as diagnostics and treatment. To correspond to the need to focus on core items individual chapters are introduced for glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and retinal detachment. Differential diagnoses and main symptoms are dealt with in chapter 24, the epidemiology and causes of blindness in chapter 25. The depths of competence are presented for the groups of all students and the practical competence (depth of competence 3) is dealt with separately for semester students and students in the practical year. Conclusion This learning target index for ophthalmology is the first approved by the DOG and represents a first step to further improve medical education in ophthalmology at German universities. The new teaching standards for studies in human medicine related to the masterplan medicine 2020 reflect the need of a consented approach to improve educational standards in ophthalmology so that all topics in ophthalmology remains sufficiently represented despite the specification to focus on high priority core items.