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Glattke K, Tummala SV, Weldon E, Bingham J. Residents and Fellows of US Medical Residencies and Fellowships Strongly Prefer In-Person to Virtual Conference Format: A Cross-sectional Survey. JB JS Open Access 2024; 9:e23.00116. [PMID: 38616848 PMCID: PMC11008663 DOI: 10.2106/jbjs.oa.23.00116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Medical conferences are an integral aspect of medical education as they allow attendees to stay up to date with recent advancements in medicine, to develop presentation and communication skills, and to network and establish connections with professionals in their field of interest. But, when the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was declared in March 2020, face-to-face medical conferences were suspended, and conference organizers began shifting their meetings to virtual platforms. These new virtual conferences afforded medical residents and fellows the unique opportunity to attend conferences from the comfort of their own home or workplace; however, the virtual meeting platforms did not provide attendees with the same networking experiences as in-person conferences. Since the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, medical conferences are now faced with the question of whether they should remain virtual, shift back to in-person meetings, or develop a hybrid model of both options. Thus, the purpose of this study was to analyze medical resident and fellow sentiments and preferences by comparing virtual and in-person conference formats. Methods A voluntary electronic survey was distributed to medical residents and fellows across the United States through their program coordinators and directors. Results The main findings of this study suggest that medical residents and fellows largely prefer in-person conferences (85%) as compared to a virtual format because of the networking opportunities afforded to them along with the development of camaraderie with their peers. The findings in this study suggest that the largest benefit in attending a virtual conference is the flexibility to attend from any location (79% important or very important), which offered convenience, flexibility, and comfort to participants (n = 100). Conclusion These results support our hypothesis that despite the convenience and portability afforded by attending conferences virtually, medical residents and fellows still ultimately prefer to attend conferences in person. Overall, the findings in this study are of relevance to conference organizers in understanding the driving forces behind attendance and should be considered in determining meeting format.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaycee Glattke
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona
| | | | | | - Joshua Bingham
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona
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Damani-Yokota P, Eberl M. The γδ T Cell Club: bringing a global scientific community together in the age of Zoom. Immunol Cell Biol 2024. [PMID: 38500262 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Immunologists are very social people-they love to meet other immunologists and talk about immunology (and immunologists). Constantly! γδ T-cell researchers are no exception. On the contrary, as there are not so many of them compared to, say, researchers working on dendritic cells, they especially crave frequent interactions with like-minded scientists. This is where the technological solutions being developed during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic come into play that have, almost overnight, allowed researchers to hold meetings and lectures online. We here describe how we set up the virtual 'γδ T Cell Club', a monthly webinar series that aims to bring the field closer together, and present our musings about what we have learned from this experience, which we hope is useful for other researchers interested in connecting online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payal Damani-Yokota
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthias Eberl
- Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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Amani DE, Ndumwa HP, Ngowi JE, Njiro BJ, Munishi C, Mboya EA, Mloka D, Kikula AI, Balandya E, Ruggajo P, Kessy AT, Kitambala E, Kapologwe N, Kengia JT, Kiologwe J, Ubuguyu O, Salum B, Kamuhabwa A, Ramaiya K, Sunguya BF. National Non-Communicable Diseases Conferences- A Platform to Inform Policies and Practices in Tanzania. Ann Glob Health 2024; 90:18. [PMID: 38463453 PMCID: PMC10921961 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.4112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) arise from diverse risk factors with differences in the contexts and variabilities in regions and countries. Addressing such a complex challenge requires local evidence. Tanzania has been convening stakeholders every year to disseminate and discuss scientific evidence, policies, and implementation gaps, to inform policy makers in NCDs responses. This paper documents these dissemination efforts and how they have influenced NCDs response and landscape in Tanzania and the region. Methods Desk review was conducted through available MOH and conference organizers' documents. It had both quantitative and qualitative data. The review included reports of the four NCDs conferences, conference organization, and conduct processes. In addition, themes of the conferences, submitted abstracts, and presentations were reviewed. Narrative synthesis was conducted to address the objectives. Recommendations emanated from the conference and policy uptake were reviewed and discussed to determine the impact of the dissemination. Findings Since 2019, four theme-specific conferences were organized. This report includes evidence from four conferences. The conferences convened researchers and scientists from research and training institutions, implementers, government agencies, and legislators in Tanzania and other countries within and outside Africa. Four hundred and thirty-five abstracts were presented covering 14 sub-themes on health system improvements, financing, governance, prevention intervention, and the role of innovation and technology. The conferences have had a positive effect on governments' response to NCDs, including health care financing, NCDs research agenda, and universal health coverage. Conclusion The National NCDs conferences have provided suitable platforms where stakeholders can share, discuss, and recommend vital strategies for addressing the burden of NCDs through informing policies and practices. Ensuring the engagement of the right stakeholders, as well as the uptake and utilization of the recommendations from these platforms, remains crucial for addressing the observed epidemiological transition in Tanzania and other countries with similar contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davis E. Amani
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, 9 United Nations Road, Upanga West P O Box 65001, Dar es salaam, Tanzania
| | - Harrieth P. Ndumwa
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, 9 United Nations Road, Upanga West P O Box 65001, Dar es salaam, Tanzania
| | - Jackline E. Ngowi
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, 9 United Nations Road, Upanga West P O Box 65001, Dar es salaam, Tanzania
| | - Belinda J. Njiro
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, 9 United Nations Road, Upanga West P O Box 65001, Dar es salaam, Tanzania
| | - Castory Munishi
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, 9 United Nations Road, Upanga West P O Box 65001, Dar es salaam, Tanzania
| | - Erick A. Mboya
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, 9 United Nations Road, Upanga West P O Box 65001, Dar es salaam, Tanzania
| | - Doreen Mloka
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, 9 United Nations Road, Upanga West P O Box 65001, Dar es salaam, Tanzania
| | - Amani I. Kikula
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, 9 United Nations Road, Upanga West P O Box 65001, Dar es salaam, Tanzania
| | - Emmanuel Balandya
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, 9 United Nations Road, Upanga West P O Box 65001, Dar es salaam, Tanzania
| | - Paschal Ruggajo
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, 9 United Nations Road, Upanga West P O Box 65001, Dar es salaam, Tanzania
- Ministry of Health, P O Box 743 Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Anna T. Kessy
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, 9 United Nations Road, Upanga West P O Box 65001, Dar es salaam, Tanzania
| | - Emilia Kitambala
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, 9 United Nations Road, Upanga West P O Box 65001, Dar es salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ntuli Kapologwe
- President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government, P O Box 1923 Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - James T. Kengia
- President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government, P O Box 1923 Dodoma, Tanzania
| | | | | | - Bakari Salum
- President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government, P O Box 1923 Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Appolinary Kamuhabwa
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, 9 United Nations Road, Upanga West P O Box 65001, Dar es salaam, Tanzania
| | - Kaushik Ramaiya
- Tanzania Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance, P O Box 65201 Dar es salaam, Tanzania
- Tanzania Diabetes Association, P O Box 65201 Dar es salaam, Tanzania
- Shree Hindu Mandal Hospital, P O Box 581 Dar es salaam, Tanzania
| | - Bruno F. Sunguya
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, 9 United Nations Road, Upanga West P O Box 65001, Dar es salaam, Tanzania
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Bilgic E, van Mil S, Bassilious E. Current Experiences, Expectations, and Future Roles of Faculty Development. Med Sci Educ 2023; 33:1147-1154. [PMID: 37886284 PMCID: PMC10597958 DOI: 10.1007/s40670-023-01853-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Introduction There is complexity to the success of faculty development (FD) programs at the departmental level, and many of the contributing factors can range from the individual to systems levels. The purpose of this study is to explore faculty perception of what FD encompasses, as well as their past/current experiences with FD, and perceptions regarding the importance, barriers, and facilitators to participating in FD. Methods This is a single center, qualitative descriptive study guided through a social constructionist perspective. Faculty from a pediatrics department were asked to participate in 1-h focus groups of 4-5 faculty per group. All sessions were done virtually and audio-recorded for transcription. Inductive reflexive thematic analysis was performed on the transcribed data. Results Overall, 5 major themes were identified: (1) purpose/meaning of FD for faculty, (2) perceptions of faculty regarding FD, (3) challenges that faculty encounter with FD, (4) designing and delivering FD to faculty, and (5) comparing FD and continuing professional development (CPD). Some of the main findings included (a) creating flexible and personalized FD curricula, (b) department focusing on bringing the faculty together as a community, and (c) department developing a broader definition of FD that could be used as a reference point in the whole department. Discussion Our findings suggest that barriers and challenges for accessing and making the most of FD opportunities still persist. Going forward, departments interested in improving their FD initiatives should focus on individualized, flexible, and technology enhanced FD approaches that motivate participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Bilgic
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, L8S 4K1 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- McMaster Education Research, Innovation and Theory (MERIT) Program, McMaster University, L8P 1H6 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Spencer van Mil
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, L8S 4K1 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Health Science Education MSc Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, L8P 1H6 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ereny Bassilious
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, L8S 4K1 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- McMaster Education Research, Innovation and Theory (MERIT) Program, McMaster University, L8P 1H6 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Razavi P, Cakir B, Baldwin G, D’Amico DJ, Miller JB. Heads-Up Three-Dimensional Viewing Systems in Vitreoretinal Surgery: An Updated Perspective. Clin Ophthalmol 2023; 17:2539-2552. [PMID: 37662647 PMCID: PMC10473403 DOI: 10.2147/opth.s424229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Three-Dimensional (3D) heads-up visualization systems have significantly advanced vitreoretinal surgery, providing enhanced detail and improved ergonomics. This review discusses the application of 3D systems in vitreoretinal surgery, their use in various procedures, their combination with other imaging modalities, and the role of this technology in medical education and telementoring. Furthermore, the review highlights the benefits of 3D systems, such as improved ergonomics, reduced phototoxicity, enhanced depth of field, and the use of color filters. Potential challenges, including the learning curve and additional costs, are also addressed. The review concludes by exploring promising future applications, including teleophthalmology for remote assistance and specialist availability expansion, virtual reality integration for global clinical education, and the combination of remotely robotic-guided surgery with artificial intelligence for precise, efficient surgical procedures. This comprehensive review offers insights into the current state and future potential of 3D heads-up visualization systems in vitreoretinal surgery, underscoring the transformative impact of this technology on ophthalmology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peyman Razavi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Donald J D’Amico
- Department of Ophthalmology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
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Aubert O, Gosemann JH, Wijnen R, Lacher M, Ure B, Madadi-Sanjani O. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pediatric Surgical Scientific Formats: An ERNICA Survey on Challenges and Future Directions. Eur J Pediatr Surg 2023. [PMID: 37192647 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1768450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The aims of this survey were to assess the experiences of the transition from in-person to virtual meetings among European pediatric surgeons since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to identify preferences for future formats. MATERIALS AND METHODS An online questionnaire was circulated among members of the European Reference Network for rare Inherited and Congenital Anomalies Network (ERNICA) in 2022. Two time periods were compared (3 years before the COVID-19 pandemic vs. the year 2021). RESULTS A total of 87 pediatric surgeons from 16 countries completed the survey. In addition, 27% of respondents were trainees/residents and 73% consultants/lead surgeons. Consultants participated in significantly more in-person congresses prior to the COVID-19 pandemic compared with trainees (5.2 vs. 1.9; p < 0.001). A significant increase in attendance of virtual meeting was reported during 2021 compared with pre-COVID-19 (1.4 vs. 6.7; p < 0.001). Consultants had experienced significantly less absenteeism thanks to virtual meetings compared with trainees (42/61 vs. 8/23; p < 0.05). Most surgeons considered virtual meetings more economic (82%), practical (78%), and family-friendly (66%). However, a majority reported missing social events (78%). The communication among attendees or between attendees and speakers or scientific faculty was deemed worse. A minority (14%) experienced equalized representation of trainees and consultants at virtual meetings. Most respondents (58%) agreed that future meeting strategies should focus on offering virtual formats. Regarding future congresses, respondents prefer hybrid (62%) over in-person (33%) or virtual (6%) formats. CONCLUSION According to European pediatric surgeons, virtual learning formats hold multiple advantages and should be continued. Improved technology must meet the challenges, particularly to enhance communication, equal representation, and networking between attendees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ophelia Aubert
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
| | - Jan-Hendrik Gosemann
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
| | - René Wijnen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC Sophia, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Martin Lacher
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
| | - Benno Ure
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
| | - Omid Madadi-Sanjani
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
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Sharma S, Anandh U, Arce-Amare F, Bek SG, Santos Junior ACSD, Lerma E. The three forms of ISN World Congress of Nephrology- Live, Virtual and Hybrid: Impact of transition on attendance and social media coverage. Kidney Int Rep 2023; 8:1125-1126. [PMID: 37138593 PMCID: PMC10033490 DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2023.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sourabh Sharma
- Department of Nephrology, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi, India
| | - Urmila Anandh
- Department of Nephrology, Amrita Hospitals, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | | | - Sibel Gokcay Bek
- Department of Nephrology, Kocaeli University Hospital, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | | | - Edgar Lerma
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Duncan NW, Shean R. Analysing the effectiveness of Twitter as an equitable community communication tool for international conferences. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15270. [PMID: 37180583 PMCID: PMC10174057 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Scientific conferences increasingly include online aspects. Some are moving to be entirely virtual whilst others are adopting hybrid models in which there are both in-person and virtual elements. This development of opportunities for people to attend conferences virtually has the potential to both reduce their environmental impact and to make access to them more equitable. An issue with virtual conference participation that has been raised, however, is that there is a reduction in informal communication between attendees. This is an important deficit as informal contacts play a significant role in both knowledge transmission and professional network development. One forum where some informal communication around conferences does occur is Twitter, with participation there being encouraged by some conferences. It is not clear, however, how effective Twitter is as a community communication tool in terms of equitable participation amongst conference attendees. To investigate this, we looked at Twitter usage surrounding four international conferences between 2010 and 2021. It was found that engagement with conference hashtags increased steadily over time, peaking in 2019. Users represented 9% of conference attendees and were primarily located in Europe and North America, communicating primarily in English (97% of tweets). Hub nodes within the interaction network were also primarily located in these regions. East Asia had fewer users than would be expected based on neuroscience publication numbers from that region. What users there were in East Asia were engaged with less than were users in other regions. It was found that the overall interaction network showed a rich-club structure, where users with more connections tend to interact more with others with similar connection numbers. Finally, it was found that users in Europe and North America tend to communicate with other users in their own regions whereas users in the rest of the world direct their interactions out of their region. These results suggest that although conference-related Twitter use has been successful to some degree in opening up access, there are some notable limitations in its usage that may mirror aspects of inequality inherent to in-person conferences. How to build equitable informal communication networks around virtual conferences remains a challenging question that requires further discussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niall W. Duncan
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, TMU-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Russell Shean
- Center for Data Science, Washington State Department of Health, Tumwater, Washington, United States of America
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Ghosh SK. Evolving strategies in whirlwind mode: The changing face of anatomy education during Covid-19 pandemic. Anat Sci Educ 2022; 15:1103-1119. [PMID: 35924417 PMCID: PMC9537882 DOI: 10.1002/ase.2214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic stipulated adoption of unfamiliar strategies for delivering anatomy education in online mode. The factors which determine education strategies are variable across geographical regions. It was perceived that an overview of education strategies around the globe would be useful for anatomists. Hence this narrative review was undertaken to collate observations from different geographical regions pertaining to education strategies adopted during the pandemic. Data relevant to the topic of study were extracted from 12 articles that were selected from an initial pool of 317 articles based on search criteria set for the review. Subtle differences in core education strategies implied that baseline response from anatomists was similar across regions. It was evident that online digital tools were key elements of education strategies adopted by educators for delivering online anatomy classes across the globe. Interestingly, a considerable gap in terms of number and variety of online tools used for anatomy education (those requiring commercial purchase) was noted between economically developed and developing regions. This may have an impact on learning outcome for students and may even lead to variations in anatomical knowledge by regions. It was observed that offline human dissection sessions were incorporated into online practical classes in one region as positive cases showed a declining trend. This positive development is worth emulating elsewhere based on cautious assessment of prevailing situation. From a broad perspective timely introduction of education strategies ensured delivery of anatomy education during the pandemic and gave an evolved outlook to the fabric of anatomy education.
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Rodríguez de Santiago E, Dinis-Ribeiro M, Pohl H, Agrawal D, Arvanitakis M, Baddeley R, Bak E, Bhandari P, Bretthauer M, Burga P, Donnelly L, Eickhoff A, Hayee B, Kaminski MF, Karlović K, Lorenzo-Zúñiga V, Pellisé M, Pioche M, Siau K, Siersema PD, Stableforth W, Tham TC, Triantafyllou K, Tringali A, Veitch A, Voiosu AM, Webster GJ, Vienne A, Beilenhoff U, Bisschops R, Hassan C, Gralnek IM, Messmann H. Reducing the environmental footprint of gastrointestinal endoscopy: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) and European Society of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Nurses and Associates (ESGENA) Position Statement. Endoscopy 2022; 54:797-826. [PMID: 35803275 DOI: 10.1055/a-1859-3726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Climate change and the destruction of ecosystems by human activities are among the greatest challenges of the 21st century and require urgent action. Health care activities significantly contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases and waste production, with gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy being one of the largest contributors. This Position Statement aims to raise awareness of the ecological footprint of GI endoscopy and provides guidance to reduce its environmental impact. The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) and the European Society of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Nurses and Associates (ESGENA) outline suggestions and recommendations for health care providers, patients, governments, and industry. MAIN STATEMENTS 1: GI endoscopy is a resource-intensive activity with a significant yet poorly assessed environmental impact. 2: ESGE-ESGENA recommend adopting immediate actions to reduce the environmental impact of GI endoscopy. 3: ESGE-ESGENA recommend adherence to guidelines and implementation of audit strategies on the appropriateness of GI endoscopy to avoid the environmental impact of unnecessary procedures. 4: ESGE-ESGENA recommend the embedding of reduce, reuse, and recycle programs in the GI endoscopy unit. 5: ESGE-ESGENA suggest that there is an urgent need to reassess and reduce the environmental and economic impact of single-use GI endoscopic devices. 6: ESGE-ESGENA suggest against routine use of single-use GI endoscopes. However, their use could be considered in highly selected patients on a case-by-case basis. 7: ESGE-ESGENA recommend inclusion of sustainability in the training curricula of GI endoscopy and as a quality domain. 8: ESGE-ESGENA recommend conducting high quality research to quantify and minimize the environmental impact of GI endoscopy. 9: ESGE-ESGENA recommend that GI endoscopy companies assess, disclose, and audit the environmental impact of their value chain. 10: ESGE-ESGENA recommend that GI endoscopy should become a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions practice by 2050.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Rodríguez de Santiago
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Universidad de Alcalá, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mario Dinis-Ribeiro
- Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), and RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Porto, Portugal
| | - Heiko Pohl
- Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire, and Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, VA White River Junction, Vermont, USA
| | - Deepak Agrawal
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Marianna Arvanitakis
- Department of Gastroenterology, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Robin Baddeley
- King's Health Partners Institute for Therapeutic Endoscopy, King's College Hospital, and Wolfson Unit for Endoscopy, St Mark's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elzbieta Bak
- Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Clinical Hospital of Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Michael Bretthauer
- Clinical Effectiveness Research Group, University of Oslo, and Department of Transplantation Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Patricia Burga
- Endoscopy Department, University Hospital of Padua, Italy
| | - Leigh Donnelly
- Endoscopy Department, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust, Northumberland, United Kingdom
| | - Axel Eickhoff
- Klinik für Gastroenterologie, Diabetologie, Infektiologie, Klinikum Hanau, Hanau, Germany
| | - Bu'Hussain Hayee
- Department of Gastroenterology, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michal F Kaminski
- Department of Cancer Prevention and Department of Oncological Gastroenterology, The Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarina Karlović
- Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka , Department of Gastroenterology, Endoscopy Unit, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Vicente Lorenzo-Zúñiga
- Department of Gastroenterology, University and Polytechnic La Fe Hospital/IIS La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria Pellisé
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), and Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mathieu Pioche
- Endoscopy Unit, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
| | - Keith Siau
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dudley Group Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Dudley, United Kingdom
| | - Peter D Siersema
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - William Stableforth
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dudley Group Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Dudley, United Kingdom
| | - Tony C Tham
- Division of Gastroenterology, Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Konstantinos Triantafyllou
- Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine - Propaedeutic, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Alberto Tringali
- Digestive Endoscopy Unit, ULSS 2 Marca Trevigiana, Conegliano Hospital, Conegliano, Italy
| | - Andrew Veitch
- Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
| | - Andrei M Voiosu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
| | - George J Webster
- Department of Gastroenterology, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Raf Bisschops
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Catholic University of Leuven (KUL), TARGID, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Cesare Hassan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, and Endoscopy Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ian M Gralnek
- Ellen and Pinchas Mamber Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, and Rappaport Faculty of Medicine Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Helmut Messmann
- III Medizinische Klinik Universitätsklinikum Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
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Lewy JR, Patnode CD, Landrigan PJ, Kolars JC, Williams BC. Quantifying the climate benefits of a virtual versus an in-person format for an international conference. Environ Health 2022; 21:71. [PMID: 35850763 PMCID: PMC9294792 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00883-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Academic institutions across the globe routinely sponsor large conferences. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many conferences have used all- or partially virtual formats. The conversion of the 2021 Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) conference, originally planned in-person for Houston, TX USA to an all-virtual format provided an opportunity to quantify the climate-related impacts of in-person versus virtual conferences. METHODS From the 2021 CUGH conference registration data, we determined each registrant's distance from Houston. Using widely available, open-source formulas, we calculated the carbon footprint of each registrant's round-trip drive or flight had they traveled to Houston. We assumed that registrants traveling more than 300 miles would have flown, with the remainder traveling by automobile. RESULTS Of 1909 registrants, 1447 would have traveled less than 4000 miles, and 389 would have traveled more than 10,000 miles round trip. Total travel-related carbon emissions were estimated at 2436 metric tons of CO2, equivalent to the conservation of 2994 acres of forest for a year. CONCLUSIONS Organizations can now readily quantify the climate cost of annual conferences. CUGH's annual international conference, when held in-person, contributes significantly to carbon emissions. With its focus on promoting global health equity, CUGH may play a lead role in understanding the pros and cons for planetary health of in-person versus virtual conferences. CUGH and other organizations could routinely measure and publish the climate costs of their annual conferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline R Lewy
- University of Michigan Medical School, 6312D Med Sci I, SPC 5624, 1301 Catherine St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5624, USA
| | - Casey D Patnode
- University of Michigan Medical School, 6312D Med Sci I, SPC 5624, 1301 Catherine St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5624, USA
| | - Philip J Landrigan
- Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco City, Monaco
| | - Joseph C Kolars
- University of Michigan Medical School, 6312D Med Sci I, SPC 5624, 1301 Catherine St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5624, USA.
| | - Brent C Williams
- University of Michigan Medical School, 6312D Med Sci I, SPC 5624, 1301 Catherine St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5624, USA
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Kubiszewski K, Gulani A, Sutter K, Sarmiento B, Ghattas YS, Mathai R, Simms-Cendan JS. Migration of an Interactive Global Health Conference to a Virtual Platform: Engaging Learners During the Pandemic. Cureus 2022; 14:e25601. [PMID: 35795517 PMCID: PMC9250323 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.25601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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14
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Fokkens WJ, Meco C, Constantinidis J, Zhang N, Hopkins C. European Rhinologic Society meeting 2021. Safe in person meeting in times of COVID-19. Rhinology 2022; 60:236-237. [PMID: 35230357 DOI: 10.4193/rhin21.476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- W J Fokkens
- Department of Otolaryngology, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, location AMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - C Meco
- Department of ORL-HNS, Ankara University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey and Department of ORL-HNS, Salzburg Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - J Constantinidis
- 1st Dept of ORL, Head and Neck Surgery, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - N Zhang
- Upper Airways Research Laboratory, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - C Hopkins
- Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London, UK
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