Trial reportBMC medical education2026
Perceptual learning enhances diabetic retinopathy detection skills in novice optometry students.
Trial report in BMC medical education, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThis study aimed to evaluate a perceptual learning module (PLM) for improving visual diagnostic skills among novice students and to investigate the underlying cognitive mechanisms using eye-tracking.
methodsIn this mixed-design study, 63 novice optometry students (Year 1 and 2) were randomly assigned into one of three groups: perceptual learning (PL), perceptual learning with enhanced-contrast (PLC), or a no-training control. A benchmark group of 21 senior students (Year 5) with formal clinical training was also recruited. The PL and PLC groups completed a four-week, web-based perceptual learning program focused on identifying signs of diabetic retinopathy. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed at pre-training and post-training for all groups, and at a three-month follow-up for the PL group. Fixation patterns, defined as the percentage and duration of fixations on pathological areas, were recorded using an eye-tracker.
resultsAfter the four-week intervention, the diagnostic accuracy of the PL and PLC groups improved significantly (p < 0.001), achieving a level similar to the senior students (p > 0.99) and better than the control group (p < 0.001). This improvement was retained at the three-month follow-up (p > 0.99). The training also increased the PL group’s fixation hits and duration on pathological areas (p < 0.001) to a level comparable to that of the senior students (p = 0.92). Post-training diagnostic accuracy in the PL group was moderately correlated with percentage of fixation hit (r = 0.50, p = 0.03), a relationship not observed at baseline or in the senior students.
conclusionsPerceptual learning is a potent and durable educational intervention that refines the fixation patterns of novice learners to a level comparable to that of more experienced students. These findings support the integration of PLMs into health professions curricula to efficiently improve pattern identification – a foundation of diagnostic skill.
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