The International Council of Ophthalmology Ophthalmic Clinical Evaluation Exercise

PURPOSE: Fifteen years after the publication of the Ophthalmic Clinical Evaluation Exercise (OCEX), it was deemed necessary to review and revise it, and to validate it for an international audience of ophthalmologists. This study to revise the OCEX and validate it for international use. METHODS: The OCEX rubric was changed to a modified Dreyfus scale; a behavioral descriptor was created for each category. An international panel of ophthalmic educators reviewed the international applicability and appropriateness of the tool. RESULTS: A tool for assessing and giving feedback on four aspects of clinical competence during the ophthalmic consultation (interview skills, examination, interpersonal and communication skills, and case presentation) was revised. The original scoring tool was improved to a new behavioral one, and relevant comments and suggestions from international reviewers were incorporated. The new tool has face and content validity for an international audience. CONCLUSION: The OCEX is the only tool for workplace assessment and feedback specifically for ophthalmology residents and the ophthalmic consultation. This improved and simplified version will facilitate its use and implementation to diverse programs around the world.