PURPOSE: To evaluate the Piaui Federal University graduating medical students' knowledge in basic ophthalmology, in order to promote curricular changes in this course. METHODS: Students that had already passed the ophthalmology course were asked to answer a standard questionnaire containing 10 multiple choice questions about some ophthalmology topics considered important in the general Doctor's graduation, such as blinding prevention and ophthalmic emergencies. The students were also asked if they would feel secure and comfortable if they had to manage an ophthalmologic urgency, and if not, why was that so. RESULTS: 99,10% of students affirmed that would not feel secure enough if they had to manage an ophthalmologic urgency. The most important fact that implied that, according to the students, was the lack of experience/life practice during the ophthalmology classes. The correct answers index in the questions concerning urgency in ophthalmology was 72,22%, where only 48,60% of them knew how to identify a blow-out fracture. As for the Blindness prevention questions, the correct answer index was 71%, where just 60,40% of the students could identify the characteristics fundoscopic changes seen in hypertensive retinopathy. CONCLUSION: The data shows that Piaui Federal University medical students do not feel capable to perform the first management in ophthalmologic urgencies. It's necessary, thus, to think about a curricular renewal in the ophthalmology course of this University, in order to improve its general doctors' graduation.
Ophthalmology; Education, medical; Evaluation; Curriculum; Education, medical, undergraduate
