ABSTRACT
The externship model of clinical training has long been an integral of optometric education, serving as a bridge between classroom learning and real-world patient care. This paper explores the perspective of optometrists on the externship model, shedding light on its significance, challenges, and potential areas for improvement. It also highlights their experiences and insights into the externship model. It delves into the benefits they see in mentoring and shaping the future of the profession, as well as the challenges they encounter in ensuring a comprehensive educational experience for students. Furthermore, it examines potential solutions and innovations to enhance the externship model, such as standardized curricula, improved communication between educational institutions and externship sites, and the integration of emerging technologies. This study was aimed at assessing the perspectives of optometrists towards the externship model of clinical training using University of Benin as the case study. This study was carried out using a descriptive qualitative design. A convenient sampling technique was employed to select respondents who were optometrists that functioned as supervising clinicians to students on externship programme. A well structured questionnaire was distributed to 47 participants between the 30-60 years of age, with a minimum of 5 years post National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) working experience. The collected Data was analyzed using the Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 222.0 frequency charts and tables were used to analyze the descriptive statistics. The result of this study showed 87.2% of respondents affirming support for the externship programme as a good source of additional training and the need for the inclusion of the program across other optometry schools. In terms of financial assistance 65.9% of respondents agreed that financial assistance should be given to clinics, 55.3% of respondents showing support for an externship inclusion criteria of 5-years post NYSC criteria for all supervising externship optometrists. agreed. In conclusion, majority of the respondents were supportive of the externship program, offered suggestions on how correct the loopholes and better monitor the level of progress of students during the course of the program. Setting of standardized procedures within all the clinics, providing up to date equipment, offering financial incentives to clinics, uniformity of the training curriculum and better collaboration with well equipped clinics were suggested. To enhance monitoring mechanisms of the students to reduce truancy the use of logbooks and frequent virtual communication was recommended.
Key words: Nigeria-based Optometrists, clinical practice, externship experiences.
