Determining the minimum deliberate practice time for fundoscopy proficiency on canine models.

Veterinary students need at least 24 minutes of deliberate practice to achieve indirect fundoscopy proficiency on simulators.

This study investigated the minimum deliberate practice time required for veterinary students to achieve proficiency in both direct and indirect fundoscopy using canine simulation models. Ninety-three students from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine were assigned to practice sessions of 12, 24, or 36 minutes following established deliberate practice principles. Competency was assessed via a self-guided objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) evaluating accurate identification of normal and abnormal fundic structures. Results demonstrated that indirect fundoscopy required a minimum of 24 minutes of deliberate practice to yield significant skill improvement over 12 minutes (p = 0.01), while additional practice beyond 24 minutes did not produce further statistically significant gains. In contrast, direct fundoscopy skills did not significantly improve beyond the 12-minute threshold (p > 0.1), suggesting this technique requires less practice time to reach competency. Across all timepoints and both techniques, students reported significant increases in procedural comfort following training (p < 0.001), indicating improved confidence regardless of session length. Limitations include the restricted number of time cohorts evaluated and the use of simulators rather than live patients. The study provides actionable guidance for veterinary curricula, recommending at least 24 minutes of deliberate practice for indirect fundoscopy instruction. As fundoscopy is considered a Day One competency for new veterinary graduates, these findings support evidence-based scheduling of simulation training to optimize skill acquisition within veterinary education programs.

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