Consensus on age-related macular degeneration course curricula for general ophthalmologists and non-ophthalmologist clinical staff: A Delphi study

PURPOSE: To define the curriculum content for two interactive learning courses on age-related macular degeneration (AMD): (1) an advanced course tailored for general ophthalmologists and (2) a basic course for non-ophthalmologist healthcare staff. This initiative aims to establish a national consensus on the educational framework for AMD management among general ophthalmologists in Denmark.

METHODS: We conducted a three-round Delphi study. The Delphi panel consisted of 33 ophthalmologists (28 retinal specialists from Denmark and five internationally recognized retinal specialists), eight non-ophthalmologist healthcare staff (six optometrists, one ophthalmic nurse and one clinic assistant) with experience in managing patients with AMD. To ensure national representation, we recruited panel participants from all five Danish regions.

RESULTS: Response rates were 85%, 73% and 71% for Delphi rounds 1, 2 and 3, respectively. In the first round, participants suggested a total of 390 potential curriculum components and learning goals: 211 components for the advanced course and 179 for the basic course. After the third round, the panel reached consensus on an AMD curriculum, which included 46 topics for the advanced course (e.g., OCT interpretation: signs of disease activity versus atrophic changes) and 15 topics for the basic course (e.g., visual requirements for driving).

CONCLUSION: This study reached consensus on the curricula for courses on AMD for general ophthalmologists and non-ophthalmologist healthcare staff. This forms the basis for developing instructional, virtual, interactive courses that can support the development and maintenance of competencies related to AMD, both in Denmark and abroad.