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McHugh SM, Kheirelseid E, Hyde S, Conway PF. Perceptions of online surgical-focused learning amongst surgeons during the COVID pandemic: A scoping review 2020-22. Surgeon 2024; 22:e94-e99. [PMID: 38142195 DOI: 10.1016/j.surge.2023.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION During the COVID pandemic many centres adopted e-learning as a tool to adhere to social distancing recommendations while continuing to provide ongoing postgraduate medical education. We aimed to complete this scoping review in order to map experience and perceptions amongst surgeons and surgical trainees to remote learning during the COVID pandemic. METHODS Using Arksey and O'Malley's five step model for conducting a scoping review, a systematic search strategy was undertaken across three online databases SCOPUS, MEDLINE and Web of Science. Only original articles in English in the field of postgraduate education in surgery were included. RESULTS 44 studies were selected for review. Of these 44, 21 were studies of perception of a newly developed e-learning tool/platform. 17 were surveys of surgeon's attitudes towards e-learning during the COVID pandemic. The remaining 6 studies were studies of knowledge or skills acquired through new e-learning, which included a survey of experience. The United States was the most common country of origin with General Surgery the most represented surgical speciality. Response rates across all three study subgroups were on average >60%. Surgeon's experience of e-learning was reported in only positive terms in 86% (n = 38/44) of studies. CONCLUSIONS This paper is informative in that it focuses specifically on surgeons' perceptions of a e-learning tools used in addition to skills or knowledge gained. Positive e-learning experience reported in these studies may lead to more blended learning curriculums being developed, deployed and evaluated going forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M McHugh
- University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - E Kheirelseid
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - S Hyde
- University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - P F Conway
- University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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Büttner M, Melton P, Fietkau R, Petersen C, Krause M, Borgmann K, Wolf U, Niyazi M, Christiansen H, Höller U, Schmitt D, Käsmann L, Linde P, Fleischmann DF, Ziegler S, Bresch A, Mäurer M. Successful implementation of online educational lectures of the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO). Strahlenther Onkol 2024; 200:151-158. [PMID: 37889301 PMCID: PMC10805975 DOI: 10.1007/s00066-023-02162-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Modern digital teaching formats have become increasingly important in recent years, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2021, an online-based webinar series was established by the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) and the young DEGRO (yDEGRO) working group. In the monthly 120-minute courses, selected lecturers teach curricular content as preparation for the board certification exam for radiation oncology. METHODS The evaluation of the 24 courses between 01.2021 and 12.2022 was performed using a standardized questionnaire with 21 items (recording epidemiological characteristics of the participants, didactic quality, content quality). A Likert scale (1-4) was used in combination with binary and open-ended questions. RESULTS A combined total of 4200 individuals (1952 in 2021 and 2248 in 2022) registered for the courses, and out of those, 934 participants (455 in 2021 and 479 in 2022) later provided evaluations for the respective courses (36% residents, 35% specialists, 21% medical technicians for radiology [MTR], 8% medical physics experts [MPE]). After 2 years, 74% of the DEGRO Academy curriculum topics were covered by the monthly webinars. The overall rating by participants was positive (mean 2021: 1.33 and 2022: 1.25) and exceeded the curriculum offered at each site for 70% of participants. Case-based learning was identified as a particularly well-rated method. CONCLUSION The DEGRO webinar expands the digital teaching opportunities in radiation oncology. The consistently high number of participants confirms the need for high-quality teaching and underlines the advantages of e‑learning methods. Optimization opportunities were identified through reevaluation of feedback from course participants. In its design as a teaching format for a multiprofessional audience, the webinar series could be used as a practice model of online teaching for other disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Büttner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Rainer Fietkau
- Radiation Clinic, Erlangen University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Cordula Petersen
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mechthild Krause
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology and National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology (OncoRay), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Medical Faculty, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- partner site Dresden, German Cancer Consortium, Dresden, Germany
- partner site Dresden, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Dresden, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kerstin Borgmann
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Wolf
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Maximilian Niyazi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- partner site Munich, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Munich, Germany
| | - Hans Christiansen
- Clinic for Radiotherapy and Special Oncology, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | | | - Daniela Schmitt
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lukas Käsmann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- partner site Munich, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Munich, Germany
| | - Philipp Linde
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cyberknife and Radiation Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO), University Hospital of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University of Cologne, Kerpener St 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
| | - Daniel F Fleischmann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- partner site Munich, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sonia Ziegler
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Angelique Bresch
- Office of the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO), Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Mäurer
- Department for Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Bachstr. 18, 07743, Jena, Germany.
- Clinician Scientist Program "OrganAge", Jena University Hospital, 07747, Jena, Germany.
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Walther LE, Löhler J. [Webinars for ENT specialists in Germany during the Lockdown phase of the COVID-19 pandemic 2020/2021]. Laryngorhinootologie 2023. [PMID: 36626912 DOI: 10.1055/a-1953-7424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION During the COVID-19 pandemic, webinars are one of the few opportunities to continue CME training to a large majority of ENT doctors. However, experiences with the quality of this digital form of education is still limited. METHODOLOGY In this study, six webinars for ENT specialists during the second lockdown in Germany (January to March 2021, provider Zoom) were evaluated. The quality control was performed by participants and speakers using special quality questions. School grades (1-6) were used for the evaluation. Answers were statistically evaluated. RESULTS On average, 1108 participants attended the six webinars. 330 ENT doctors answered the surveys. The return of the questionnaires was 30.2%, that of the speakers 100%. Eight of the nine questions asked received school grades better than 2.0 on average. The speakers needed an average of 12.8 hours to prepare the webinar. The cost per webinar was about 3.50 €. CONCLUSIONS Webinars have become an effective form of CME-training for ENT doctors in Germany. They can be organized quickly for a large number of participants, are less expensive and environmentally benefical. Webinars might have an important place in CME-training in the future.
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Online Survey Evaluation of Three Years of European Society of Thoracic Surgeons Educational Webinars as Part of The E-learning Platform. World J Surg 2023; 47:534-544. [PMID: 36280616 PMCID: PMC9592132 DOI: 10.1007/s00268-022-06790-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND E-learning has become an important tool in surgical education in the last decade. The European Society of Thoracic Surgeons launched its e-learning platform in 2013 and started its educational webinars series in 2018. The aim of this paper is to discuss the introduction, evolution and impact of the educational webinars within this e-learning platform. METHODS Twenty-four English spoken webinars discussing different subdomains in general thoracic surgery (21 expert talks, 2 pro-con debates and 1 multidisciplinary case discussion) were analyzed. An online questionnaire on timing, quality and technical aspects of the webinars was sent to 3012 registrants. RESULTS The webinars reached 3128 unique registrants from 76 countries worldwide. The mean number of registrants was 355 with 171 live attendees (48%) and 155 replay watchers (36%). Hundred and twenty-six attendees (13.1% of people who registered for at least 4 webinars) completed the questionnaire. Timing and duration of the webinars were rated "very good" to "excellent" in 78%, and the quality of the webinar content and the expertise of the webinar presenters were rated "very good" to "excellent" in 88% and 90%, respectively. The impact on knowledge and clinical practice was scored with a weighted average of 7.27 out of 10 and 6.79 out of 10, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The ESTS educational webinars were effective in delivering up-to-date knowledge to almost half of the countries around the globe. The impact of these events on knowledge and clinical practice were rated high. New e-learning tools should be added to the surgical educational curriculum.
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The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Ophthalmology Residency Education. BEYOGLU EYE JOURNAL 2022; 7:213-222. [PMID: 36185986 PMCID: PMC9522996 DOI: 10.14744/bej.2022.58234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to investigate the theoretical, practical, and academic effects of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on ophthalmology residents. METHODS The web-based survey consisting of 28 questions was sent through Email to 37 educators who provides resident training. We divided the pandemic period into three, according to the severity of the pandemic and the measures, compared with pre-pandemic period (PreP), separately. Between March 2020 and June 2020 was named as P1, June 2020-October 2020 was named as P2, and October 2020-March 2021 was named as P3. RESULTS Responses received from 35 centers (17 university hospitals, 18 training and research state hospitals). There were totally 458 residents in the hospitals. Two hundred and forty-six of them (53.71%) worked on COVID-19 duties, with an average working time of 69.57 days. There were significant decreases in the number of patients examined by resident doctors and theoretical training time in the P1, P2, and P3 periods compared to PreP (p<0.05 for all). Furthermore, in terms of the total number of surgeries in clinics and surgeries performed by residents, there were significant decreases in P1 and P2 compared to PreP (p<0.001 for both), but there was no significant difference in P3 (p=0.109). In the examinations held in the clinic, in the 1st year of the pandemic, the grade average was lower than before the pandemic (p<0.05). Seventeen residents (3.74%) resigned or moved to another hospital. CONCLUSION The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the theoretical, practical, and academic training of ophthalmology residents.
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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ophthalmology Residents: A Narrative Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111567. [PMID: 34770081 PMCID: PMC8583285 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has drastically affected medical societies. We aim to provide an overview and summarize the information published so far concerning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmology residency programs and the mental wellbeing of trainees, and to establish factors to help maintain successful residency training to ensure high-quality, specialist ophthalmic training. A literature search was conducted in October 2021 of the PubMed database for articles assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of ophthalmology trainees and on ophthalmology residency programs. Cross-sectional survey studies, editorials, articles in scientific journals, letters to editors, and commentaries were considered; finally, 19 studies were included after excluding abstract-only publications and conference posters. The studies’ demographic details, participant characteristics, interventions, outcomes, and limitations were extracted. Our summarized information showed the alarmingly significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmology trainees’ mental health and the associated considerable changes in ophthalmic training programs. Thus, in future, virtual training and surgical simulators should be permanently introduced, in addition to traditional teaching, to complete successful ophthalmology residency programs. Additionally, we emphasize the need for a widely facilitated and encouraged access to psychological support programs for healthcare workers, including ophthalmologists.
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