The EBP Optometry Project
Left to right- Kosta Douka, Catherine Suttle, Robert Jacobs, Mike Pianta, Rachel Thompson, Fiona Stapleton, Isabelle Jalbert & Peter Hendicott. Team members not in photo: Kirsten Challinor, Barbara Junghans, Konrad Pesudovs, Leanne Togher & Adrian Lee.
The Evidence-based practice in Optometry Project
Welcome to the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) for optometry web-site. This site has been designed for students, teachers and practitioners to discover resources and develop their understanding of EBP to improve eye health outcomes.
This web-site is one deliverable from a 2 year Australian Government funded project (Office for Learning & Teaching) during 2012/2013. This collaborative project spanned Optometry schools across Australia and New Zealand and this collaboration resulted in the content of this cite. The project aim was to review teaching and learning strategies ensure graduates have the knowledge and skills needed for evidence-based practice.
Background
In the profession of optometry, responsibilities for eye and general health care make evidence-based practice (EBP) essential. Current optometry curricula include isolated teaching and learning strategies that aim to develop the knowledge and skills required for EBP, but our recent pilot work (1) suggests that optometry graduates have not uniformly adopted EBP. Programs in other disciplines such as medicine and speech pathology have recognized and addressed this issue by embedding teaching and learning strategies in their curricula. For example, the Faculty of Medicine at the University of New South Wales has developed and implemented an online resource to support learning and teaching in EBP. Our review of the literature confirms this type of resource as a valid and effective means of developing EBP knowledge and skills. This Project aims to increase the use of evidence-based practice in Optometry. The Project team is comprised of representatives from Optometry Schools in Australia and New Zealand as well as EBP experts. The project is funded by a grant awarded by the Office for Learning and Teaching (formerly the Australian Learning & Teaching Council). It runs from December 2011 through to December 2013. Please enjoy browsing this website and do get in touch with us if you are interested in finding out more about the Project- we would love to hear from you.
References
1. Suttle, C.M., Jalbert, I. & Alnahedh, T. Examining the evidence base used by optometrists in Australia and New Zealand. Clinical & experimental optometry: Journal of the Australian Optometrical Association 95, 28-36 (2012).
THE TEAM
Representatives from the 6 Australasian Optometry Schools
Lead institution: University of NSW
Project Leaders: Dr Catherine Suttle & Dr Isabelle Jalbert.
Prof Fiona Stapleton
A/Prof. Barbara Junghans
In collaboration with:
A/Prof. Peter Hendicott - QLD University of Technology.
A/Prof. Robert Jacobs - University of Auckland.
Prof. Konrad Pesudovs - Flinders University.
Dr Michael Pianta - University of Melbourne.
Evidence-based practice experts
Dr Rachel Thompson – University of NSW Faculty of Medicine.
Prof. Leanne Togher – University of Sydney Faculty of Health Sciences.
Ms Elizabeth Murray – University of Sydney Faculty of Health Sciences.
Management
Dr Kirsten Challinor – Project Manager (University of NSW).
Kosta Douka - Web developer (University of NSW).
Fresno Test
The Fresno Test was developed to assess knowledge and skills in evidence based medicine and has been successfully modified for use by other health professions including optometry.
