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Article O r i g i n AL r ese A r
Ch

needs assessment of ophthalmology


education
for primary care physicians in training:
comparison with the international
Council of Ophthalmology
recommendations

Toby YB Chan 1 268 grosvenor street, London, Ontario n6A 4V2, Canada
Tel +1 519 646 6272
Amandeep s rai 2 Fax +1 519 646 6410
edwin Lee 2 email cindy.hutnik@sjhc.london.on.ca

Jordan T glicksman 3
Cindy ML hutnik 1
1
ivey eye institute,
Department of
Ophthalmology, 2schulich
school of Medicine and
Dentistr y, 3 Department of
Otolar yngology and head and
neck surger y, University of
Western Ontario, London,
Ontario, Canada

Correspondence: Cindy ML
hutnik ivey eye institute, st.
Josephs
DOI:
hospital, which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, provided the original work
10.2147/OPTH.S17567
is properly cited.
Background: This cross- feeling only somewhat comfortable or not at all comfortable in assessing and managing
sectional survey assessed the common ophthalmic conditions, including ocular emergencies, such as acute angle closure
adequacy of ophthalmology teaching glaucoma and ocular chemical burn. A positive correlation was seen between overall
in undergraduate medical education comfort level and hours of classroom instruction (P , 0.05).
and evaluated the comfort level of Conclusion: The number of hours of ophthalmology training received by family
family medicine residents in medicine residents during medical school meets the International Council of Ophthalmology
diagnosing and managing common Task Force recommendations. However, family medicine residents appear to be
ophthalmic conditions. uncomfortable in handling treatable but potentially sight-threatening ocular conditions.
Methods: Postgraduate year 1 Standardizing the undergraduate medical education ophthalmology curriculum and
and 2 family medicine residents at increasing hours of ophthalmology training during postgraduate family medicine residency
the University of Western Ontario may be useful in bridging this gap in knowledge.
were recruited for this study. The Keywords: medical education, ophthalmology, needs assessment, primary
main outcome measures were hours care
of classroom and clinic-based
instruction on ophthalmology Introducti
during undergraduate medical
education, and the comfort level in
on
Ophthalmic conditions are common in primary care practice.1 Eye signs and
ophthalmic clinical skills and
managing various ophthalmic symptoms are often the first recognized presentation of common systemic
conditions. Results: In total, 54 conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension. While many conditions affecting the
(33.3%) of 162 family medicine eye can be treated, irreversible damage can occur if they are left unrecognized (eg,
residents responded to the survey. diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma).2 Despite the prevalence of such conditions,
Residents reported an average of little time is devoted to ophthalmic training in undergraduate medical education.3
27.1 35.1 hours and 39.8 47.1 A recent study revealed that Canada does not have a standardized undergraduate
hours of classroom and clinical medical education curriculum for medical schools, and that many residents of
ophthalmology instruction, various specialties report not having
respectively. However, most confidence in managing ophthalmological cases.5
residents (80%) responded as

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Dovepress Ophthalmology education for
trainee gPs
Chan et Dovepress
al
Prior studies have shown that Canadian medical comfortable; 3 = moderately comfortable; 4 =
students are not comfortable with ophthalmic clinical comfortable;
skills, such as the use of an ophthalmoscope. 4,5 A recent 5 = very comfortable). The conditions and skills asked
study at a public medical school in California about in the questionnaire were based on the topics covered
demonstrated that 26% of graduating students were not at in the undergraduate medical education ophthalmology
all comfortable with performing screening eye reference text published by the American Academy of
examinations and that 57% were very interested in a skills Ophthalmology.13
refresher course in the future.6 This is consistent with a
1995 study which reported that, according to estimation by statistical
US primary care program directors, less than analysis
50% of residents have adequate ophthalmic skills at the Descriptive statistics were generated using Microsoft Excel
start of residency, despite 85% feeling that skills like a (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA) and SAS
screening eye examination should be mastered during software (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). MannWhitney U test
medical school.3 was used to compare means between groups. The
These findings support the importance of adequate under- Spearman correlation test was performed to identify if
graduate ophthalmology training.712 there was an association between comfort level and number
These studies suggest that medical students receive of hours of ophthalmology education in undergraduate
too little ophthalmic training and advocate increasing medical education. A P value of less than 0.05 was
the exposure to ophthalmic knowledge and skills within the considered statistically significant.
undergraduate medical education curriculum. The primary
goal of our study was to quantify the adequacy of Resul
ophthalmic education for medical school graduates in ts
training to be primary care physicians. Our study also Of the 162 family medicine residents in PGY 1 and 2 at the
aimed to highlight the ophthalmic training requirements University of Western Ontario, 54 (33.3%) volunteered to
of general family practitioners, and propose necessary participate in the study. No participant met the exclusion
changes to the Canadian medical school curricula criteria. None of the completed surveys showed identical
accordingly. responses for all items. A summary of the demographic
data is shown in Table 1.
Metho
ds Amount of undergraduate
An 85-item cross-sectional survey questionnaire was used
ophthalmology teaching
in this study. Approval was granted by the University of
There was a large variation in the amount of classroom-
Western Ontario Research Ethics Board. All current
based (range 0200 hours) and clinic-based (range 0300
family medicine residents training at the University of
hours) ophthalmology teaching during medical school.
Western Ontario, including those in postgraduate year
Overall, it appears that international medical graduates
(PGY) 1 and
received more ophthalmology instruction than Canadian
2, were invited to participate in the study. Participants
medical graduates (P , 0.05, Table 2).
were excluded if they had previously applied to or been
enrolled in an ophthalmology residency program. Informed
consent was provided by all participants.
Overall comfort in managing
Using a paper-based questionnaire (see Appendix 1), ophthalmological conditions
subjects were asked to provide information on the The subjects reported that, on average, 6.3% 9.2% of
following: year of postgraduate training in family medicine their postgraduate rotations in family medicine involve
residency, country of origin of medical school prior to exposure
residency,
number of hours of classroom or clinical exposure to Table 1 Demographic data on
participants
ophthalmology during undergraduate medical education, Total PGY-1 PGY-2
as well
Doveaspress
percentage of rotation time involving exposure UWO family medicine Ophthalmology
162 68 education
94 for
residents questionnaire trainee gPs
to ophthalmological conditions during family medicine Completed 54 35 19
CMgsa 32 (64.8%)
23 (35.2%)
9
residency.
iMgs 22 (71.9%)
12 (28.1%)
10
Subjects were also asked to rate their comfort with (54.5%) (45.5%)
Notes: Percentages are expressed out of the total in first column.
respect to managing specific ophthalmology conditions and a
Canadian medical school representation: UWO (n = 15), McMaster
performing specific ophthalmic clinical skills on a Likert (n = 7), Toronto (n = 4), Manitoba (n = 2), Mcgill (n = 2), Queens (n =
1), Calgary (n = 1).
scale from 15 (1 = not comfortable at all; 2 = Abbreviations: CMgs, Canadian medical graduates; iMgs,
somewhat international medical graduates; PgY, postgraduate year; UWO,
University of Western Ontario.
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Table 2 hours of instruction during 60%

undergraduate medical education 50%

Classroom- Clinic- 40%

based based 30%


PGY-1
instruction instructio
n
All respondents 27.1 (35.1) 39.8 20%
PGY-2
(47.1) 10%
PgY-1/PgY-2 23.5 (26.0)/33.4 (47.4) 33.0
0%
(27.2)/51.6 (68.8) CMgs/iMgs 17.5 (18.5)/44.1 Not Somewhat Moderately Comfortable Very
(49.4)a 30.5 (53.4)/55.8 (28.6)a
Notes: Data reported as mean (standard deviation). aP , 0.05 by
MannWhitney U test.
Abbreviations: CMgs, Canadian medical graduates; iMgs, comfortable comfortable comfortable comfortable
international medical graduates; PgY, postgraduate year. at all

Figure 2 Distribution of comfort level in managing ophthalmology


cases (PgY 1 and 2).
to eye-related cases (6.9% 10.6% for PGY 1, 5.3% Abbreviation: PgY,
postgraduate year.
5.7% for PGY 2). Eighty percent of subjects reported that
they were either somewhat comfortable or not
comfortable at all in dealing with ophthalmology- conditions (Table 4), as well as in performing relevant
associated conditions. Very few subjects felt moderately ophthalmic clinical skills (Table 5). When comparing the
comfortable (14.8% overall) or comfortable (5.6% responses of both PGY 1 and PGY 2 in managing or
overall). No subject reported being very comfortable with coordi- nating care of ophthalmology-related issues, the
ophthalmology-associated issues (Figures 1 and 2). There median score differed for 22 of the 52 items. PGY 1
was no statistically significant difference in average residents had a higher median score in 16 of all items, and
comfort level rating from the Likert scale between PGY 1 PGY 2 residents higher in six items (Table 4). When asked
and PGY 2 (1.9 0.8 and 2.2 0.8, respectively) and about their comfort level surrounding various
between Canadian medical graduates and international ophthalmologic procedures, the median scores between
medical graduates (1.9 0.8 and 2.1 0.8, respectively). PGY 1 and PGY 2 differed in 8 of 21 items. PGY 1
residents scored higher in three of all items, whereas PGY
hours of instruction versus 2 residents scored higher in five items (Table 5).
comfort level The Spearman correlation
revealed a moderately positive correlation between the Discussi
hours of classroom instruction received during on
undergraduate medical education and overall comfort in We were able to achieve a response rate of 33.3% from the
managing ophthalmology cases (P = 0.0012). The hours of entire study population, ie, 54 of 162 University of
clinic instruction alone and combined classroom and clinic Western Ontario Family Medicine residents. There was
instruction revealed small positive correlations, albeit not good repre- sentation of both Canadian medical graduates
statistically significant (Table 3). (n = 32) and international medical graduates (n = 22), as
well as from both PGY 1 (n = 35) and PGY 2 (n = 19)
Management of specific years of residency. Seven Canadian medical schools were
ophthalmic conditions and represented among the study population.
ophthalmic clinical skills There was a The International Council of Ophthalmology provides
wide variation in the comfort level of family guidance to increase ophthalmology training in medi-
medicine residents in managing different ophthalmologic cal schools. It recommends 4060 hours of ophthalmol-
ogy exposure during undergraduate medical education.11
70%

60%

50% Table 3 Correlation between comfort level and


40% amount of ophthalmology instruction during
undergraduate medical education
10
30% % IMGs
20% CMGs

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s ion
P-
Spea corr coefficien value
rman elat t
0%
Not
hours of classroom- 0.45 0.0012
Somewhat Moderately Comfortable Very setting instruction & (moderat
comfortable
comfortable comfortable comfortable
at all comfort level hours e) 0.37
of clinic-setting 0.13
instruction & comfort (small)
level
Figure 1 Distribution of comfort level in managing ophthalmology Total hours of 0.26 0.067
cases. Abbreviations: CMgs, Canadian medical graduates; instruction & (smal
iMgs, international medical graduates.
comfort level l)

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Table 4 Median response for management of specific ophthalmic conditions
All CMGs IMGs PGY-1 PGY-2
(n = 54) (n = 32) (n = 22) (n = (n =
Orbit/lacrimal apparatus/lids/lashes 32) 22)
Proptosis 2 2 1 3 1
Orbital Cellulitis 3 3 3 3 3
Ptosis 2 3 2 3 2
Preseptal cellulitis 2 2 2 2 2
Chalazion/stye 3 3 3 3 4
Blepharitis 3 3 3 3 4
Conjunctiva/scl
era Dry eyes 4 3 4 3 4
Conjunctival lesions (eg, 3 3 3 3.5 3
laceration/abrasion/nodule)
Conjunctivitis 4 4 4 4 4
episcleritis/scleritis 3 2.5 3 3 3
subconjunctival hemorrhage 3 3 4 3 4
Cornea
Corneal abrasion 3 4 3 3 4
Corneal ulcer 2 2 2 3 2
herpetic keratitis (hsV/hZV) 2 2 2 2.5 2
recurrent corneal erosions 2 2 2 2 1
Corneal foreign body/rust ring 3 3 2 3 2
Contact lens related 3 3 2 3 3
issues Neuro-
ophthalmology 2 2 2 2 2
Anisocoria
relative afferent papillary defect 2 2 2 2 2
Visual field defects 2 2 2 2 2
Diplopia 2 2.5 2 2 2
Optic disc edema 2 2 2 2 2
Optic neuritis 1 2 1 2 1
Arteritic ischemic optic 2 2.5 1 2 2
neuropathy/giant cell
arteritistract
Uveal
iritis 2 2 1 2 2
Pediatric ophthalmology
strabismus 2 2 3 2 2
Leukocoria 2 2 1 2 2
Amblyop 2 2 2 2 2
ia Lens
Cataract 3 3 3 3 3
Retina and vitreous
Posterior vitreous detachment 2 2 1 2 1
Vitreous hemorrhage 2 2 2 2 2
Central retinal artery/vein occlusion 1.5 1 2 2 2
Age-related macular degeneration 2 2 2 2 2
retinal detachment 2 2 1 2 2
Glaucoma
Primary open angle glaucoma 2 2 2 2.5 2
Acute angle closure glaucoma 2 2 2 2 2
Ocular manifestations of systemic
disease 3 3 3 2.5 3
Thyroid
Diabeticophthalmopathy
retinopathy 3 3 3 3 3
hypertensive retinopathy 3 3 3 3 3
Amaurosis fugax 2 3 2 2.5 2
Myasthenia gravis 2 2 2 2.5 2
Autoimmune diseases (eg, rA, Lupus, 2 2 2 2 2
sjogrens, hLA-B27)
Migraine 3 3 3 3 3
(Continued)
Table 4 (Continued)
All CMGs IMGs PGY-1 PGY-2
(n = 54) (n = 32) (n = 22) (n = 32) (n =
22)
Ocular trauma/emergencies
globe rupture/intraocular foreign bodies 1 2 1 2 1
Chemical burn 2 2 1 2 2
hyphema 2 2 1 2 2
Blow out fractures 1.5 2 1 2 1
endophthalmitis 1 2 1 2 1
Medications
Topical nsAiDs 2 2 2 2 2
Topical steroids 2 2 2 2 2
Anti-glaucoma medications 2 2 2 3 2
Topical anti-infective medications 3 3 3 3 3
Note: Based on a Likert scale from 15 (1 = not comfortable at all; 2 = somewhat comfortable; 3 = moderately comfortable; 4 = comfortable;
5 = very comfortable).
Abbreviations: CMgs, Canadian medical graduates; iMgs, international medical graduates; PgY, postgraduate year.
Nonetheless, a recent survey by Welch and Eckstein ophthalmology instruction (39.8 47.1 hours). However,
revealed that medical schools in the UK did not comply there was a wide variation in the hours of instruction
with the recommended ophthalmology curriculum set out reported, as reflected by the large standard deviations.
by the International Council of Ophthalmology.14 Residents received from 0200 hours of classroom
Compared with the International Council of Ophthal- instruction and
mology Task Force recommendation of 4060 hours,11 our 0300 hours of clinic-based instruction on ophthalmology
study participants received a satisfactory number of hours during medical school. This implies that some residents
of received instruction falling short of the task force recom-
both classroom-based (27.1 35.1 hours) and clinic-based mendation. International medical graduates reported a
higher

Table 5 Median response for ophthalmic clinical skills


All CMGs IMGs PGY-1 PGY-2
(n = 54) (n = 32) (n = 22) (n = 32) (n =
22)
Clinical assessment history and physical
Ophthalmological history-taking 4 4 4 4 4
Visual acuity 4 4 4 4 4
Pupil examination/swinging flash light test 4 4 4 4 4
Cover-uncover test/alternate cover test 4 4 4 4 4
Colour vision testing 3 3 4 3 3
Visual field 4 4 4 4 4
Interpretation of fluorescein staining 4 4 3 4 4
Direct ophthalmoscope 3 3 3 3 3
Tonometry (intra-ocular pressure) 2 2 2 2 2
extra-ocular movements 4 5 5 4 5
Investigations
Ordering/interpretation of bloodwork (including CBC, esr, C- 4 4 4 4 4
reactiveCT
Orbital protein)
scan 3 3 3 2 3
Carotid Doppler ultrasound 3 3 3 3 3
echocardiogram 3 3 4 3 4
Medical/surgical referral, counseling and care
Prescription of topical antibiotics 4 4 4 4 4
Prescription of topical steroids 3 3 3 3 2
Prescription of anti-glaucoma medications 2 2.5 2 3 2
indications for ophthalmology referral 3 3 3 3 3
indications and contraindications for certain surgical procedures 2 2 3 2 3
Preparation of patients for surgery and post-operative care 3 3 3 2 3
explanations of common ophthalmological surgical procedures 2 2 3 2.5 2
(eg, cataract surgery, vitrectomy)
Note: Based on a Likert scale from 15 (1 = not comfortable at all; 2 = somewhat comfortable; 3 = moderately comfortable; 4 = comfortable;
5 = very comfortable).
Abbreviations: CMgs, Canadian medical graduates; iMgs, international medical graduates; PgY, postgraduate year.
amount of ophthalmologic residents felt comfortable tonometer, because one of Our results reflect the
instruction when compared in managing red eye, they the important learning same phenomenon, ie,
with Canadian medical only felt somewhat objectives of the College primary care trainees are
graduates, although there comfortable with relative of Family Physicians of not fully comfortable with
was no signifi- cant afferent papillary defects, Canada is to perform a assessing or managing
difference in the average strabismus, and focused examination and some of the commonly
level of comfort in amblyopia. Other investiga- tions to evaluate encountered subspecialty
managing ophthalmic conditions which often a red eye, including the conditions which often
diseases between the two threaten sight in the measurement and require acute management.
groups. Our data sug- gest emergency setting, such as evaluation of intraocular When comparing the
the need for standardizing orbital cellulitis, corneal pressure.16 different modes of
the amount of ulcer, acute angle closure A similar study instruction (classroom
ophthalmology instruction glaucoma, ocular chemical assessing the comfort level versus clinic), we found
in undergraduate medical burn, and ischemic optic of Canadian family that classroom-based
education. neuropathy secondary to medicine residents with instruction had a positive
Despite the amount of giant cell arteritis, also had conditions pertaining to effect on raising comfort
ophthalmology instruction low median scores. All of otolaryngology/head and in managing
in undergraduate medical these diseases and present- neck surgery also revealed ophthalmological cases.
education meeting the ing problems are important low levels of comfort for Perhaps by standardizing
International Council of to recognize, owing to the important conditions and and enriching the
Ophthalmology high risk of vision loss and procedures.17 underg raduate medical
recommendations, most diminished quality of life. education
(80%) of the residents in Residents reported ophthalmology cur
our study felt only feeling comfortable with riculum in medical
somewhat comfortable performing the schools, or by increasing
or not comfortable at all ophthalmologic the percentage of
in managing examination. Of the 21 ophthalmology teaching
ophthalmology conditions. ophthalmologic skills or during residency, trainees
With the exception of dry procedures asked about, will be more conf ident
eyes and conjunctivitis, they reported feeling in handling eye-related
residents felt moderately comfortable with nine of cases in the primary care
comfortable or less in them and moderately setting. Medical schools
managing all the specific comfortable with another may consider utilizing
conditions in our eight. They reported innovative methods of
questionnaire. While it feeling somewhat com- education, such as
may be understandable that fortable in four specific computer-assisted or web-
residents are not areas, ie, tonometry, based learning, which has
comfortable with all ocular prescription of shown promising
conditions, there are antiglaucoma medications, effectiveness in
certain diseases with which indications and subspecialty training. 18

family medicine physicians contraindications for Further studies will have to


should be familiar. For surgical procedures, and be conducted to validate
example, the Medical explaining common newer approaches to
Council of Canada lists ophthalmo- logical surgical knowledge transfer in
strabismus, pupil abnor- procedures. Emphasis medical education.
malities, and eye redness should be placed on getting The questionnaire
among its learning family medicine residents was administered to
objectives for medical more familiar and comfort- residents approximately
students. 15 Although able with using a 12 years following the
conclusion of their comfort in managing
undergraduate medical ophthalmic conditions.
training. Potential exists for Many of these conditions
recall bias for responses are common and could
regarding past result in loss of vision if
undergraduate medical not treated properly,
education. However, the including cataracts, stra-
responses were consistent bismus, pupil
with previous studies of abnormalities, acute angle
undergraduate medical closure glaucoma, and
education ophthalmology giant cell arteritis. These
training in other countries, specific conditions should
which suggests validity of be the focus of educational
the results.3,4,6 interventions, such as
Our sample was limited in lectures, computer-assisted
that it represented a learning, continuing
selection of residents from medical education, and
a single postgraduate refresher courses.
institution, although there Our study reinforces the
was representation of need for standardized
graduates from a broad ophthalmo- logical
spectrum of domestic and education across Canadian
international medical medical schools. There was
schools. It would be wide variance in self-
interesting to compare the reported number of hours
level of comfort of of instruction.
residents in different Furthermore, some
family medicine residency residents in our study
programs. reported having

C
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Appendix a o 3 = moderately
u comfortable, 4 =
Appendix 1 o r comfortable, 5 = very
Ophthalmology in family r s
comfortable)
medicine questionnaire for 9. What percentage of your
a family medicine
family medicine residents.
b
1. At what medical school rotations can be
r
are you currently o classified as managing
pursuing your a ophthalmology-
residency? d associated issues (eg,
) acute red eye, floaters,
2. What year of residency ?
are you presently in? etc)

PGY
1 Y %
PGY 2 e 10. How comfortable do
PGY s you feel managing
3+
ophthalmology
3. Have you ever applied
associated issues?
to a postgraduate
N not comfortable at
training program in o all somewhat
ophthalmology? 6. Please indicate which comfortable

medical school you
attended prior to moderately
Y
comfortable
e beginning this
s residency: comfortable
School name:

City:
v
N Province: e
o Country: r
4. Have you ever been 7. How many hours of y
trained in a dedicated classroom-based
ophthalmology ophthalmology c
postgraduate training o
instruction did you
m
program outside of your receive during medical f
regular curriculum? school? o
r
t
Y h
o a
e b
s u
r l
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8. How many total 11. Using the table below,
N hours of clinical please indicate how
o ophthalmology comfortable you feel
5. Have you ever worked instruction did you managing/coordinating
as an ophthalmologist the care for these
(within receive during medical
school (ie, through issues based on your
C
observerships, clerkship, present knowledge:
a
n electives, etc)? (1 = not at all
a comfortable, 2 =
d somewhat comfortable,
h
t t n
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i i e
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(Continued) (Continued)
Ocular trauma/emergencies Visual field
globe rupture/intraocular foreign bodies Interpretation of fluorescein staining
Chemical Direct ophthalmoscopy
burn Tonometry (intraocular
hyphema pressure) extraocular
Blowout movements
fractures Investigations
endophthalmit Ordering/interpretation of bloodwork
is including full blood count, esr, C-
Medications reactive protein
Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Orbital computed
Topical steroids
tomography scan Carotid
Antiglaucoma medications
Doppler ultrasound
Topical anti-infective medications
echocardiogram
Medical/surgical referral,
12. Using the table below, please indicate how counseling, and care
comfortable you feel performing the following Prescription of topical antibiotics
ophthalmology-related skills: Prescription of topical steroids
(1 = not at all comfortable, 2 = somewhat comfortable, Prescription of antiglaucoma
3 = moderately comfortable, 4 = comfortable, 5 = very medications indications for

comfortable) ophthalmology referral


indications and contraindications
for certain surgical procedures
Clinical assessment history and physical 1 2 Preparation of patients for
3 4 5
surgery and postoperative care
Ophthalmological history-taking
explanations of common
Visual acuity
ophthalmological surgical procedures
Pupil examination/swinging flash (eg, cataract surgery, vitrectomy)
light test Cover-uncover
test/alternate cover test Color
vision testing This is the end of the questionnaire. Thank you for
(Continued)
taking the time to complete our survey.

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