Bioethical problems perceived by students doing their practice at the Optometry Clinic at the Universidad de La Salle

Abstract

Optometry students and optometrists face numerous and serious bioethical problems every day nevertheless, the type and frequency of these in clinical practice is unexplored. <em><strong>Objectives:</strong><em> To explore the type and frequency of bioethical problems perceived by students during their practice, and to examine how they see their ability to address them. <em><strong>Methodology:</strong><em> During a descriptive study, 55 students between their 7th and 9th semesters filled out the Bioethical Problems in Optometry Questionnaire. <em><strong>Results:</strong><em> Students report that they face numerous bioethical problems during their clinical rotation. These include disqualifying comments on the performance of students and professionals refusing to attend a patient considering that it is a difficult case examining patients without their consent students asking for help from their rotating colleagues because they feel that their clinical skills are not sufficient and the loss of pages of medical records. <em><strong>Conclusions:</strong><em> The bioethical problems reported were related to collegiality, treatment of patients, professionalism, informed consent and confidentiality, which are common situations in other health professions too. They also reported issues unique to their role as students. More than half of the respondents said that they did not feel prepared to face bioethical problems. It would be important to place greater emphasis on case management and bioethical decision making within the curriculum of the program, as well as on experiences and topics that could enrich the ethical discourse of students and could enable them to face bioethical problems of their clinical environment.