P–786 Virtual continual professional education programs in ART in time of SARS-CoV–2: do they deliver?

Study question

Can virtual training deliver effective professional education to ART professionals?

Summary answer

Virtual continual professional education programs are an excellent learning platform for ART professionals. The web-based Educational Library is a very useful global scientific resource.

What is known already

Retention levels are the highest when theoretical knowledge sharing is combined with practical hands-on training in a face-to-face training center set up. This is especially the case for training in Assisted Reproductive Techniques, where success depends in part on the ART professional’s skills. Due to the global SARS-CoV–2 pandemic in 2020, hands-on training programs were forced to close, and new educational web-based activities tools like streaming of webinars and journal clubs were developed.

Study design, size, duration

The effectiveness of the Global Education and Webinar Series organised by CooperSurgical (including webinars and journal clubs) streamed in 2020, was evaluated retrospectively by analysing the following: 1) the live attendance rates; 2) viewing rates in the Webinar Series Library; 3) outcomes of the feedback questionnaire focusing on the level of the webinar content, relevance to day-to-day clinical and laboratory work, gaining new knowledge, and pace of the webinar.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

In 2020, 65 webinars and 8 journal clubs were streamed at different timepoints to accommodate a global professional ART audience. The target audience included embryologists, lab technicians, IVF clinicians, counsellors, and scientists. Topics were IVF lab and clinic-based, theoretical but also practical. Lectures were prepared with an evidence-based approach and submitted for scientific review. Post live attendance, viewers were invited to fill in a questionnaire; they obtained a certificate of attendance.

Main results and the role of chance

In 2020, 16,839 viewers attended the 65 live webinars and 8 journal clubs. Live attendance rates dropped by 75% in May, when IVF clinics were re-opening after the first wave of SARS-CoV–2.

On 08.01.2021, a total of 23,258 library viewings were recorded. Library viewings increased significantly after the re-opening of the clinics.

Viewers were located in 129 countries; India, Thailand, and Spain had the highest viewing of all the countries (> 1500 viewings per country). Multiple viewers attended between 10 to 26 of the virtual activities.

The feedback analysis showed that 96% of the viewers found the webinars to be relevant to their day-to-day work; 92% gained knowledge as a result of the webinar; 94% of the viewers found the level appropriate and 91% felt that the pace of the presentations was just right.

These outcomes demonstrate that the need for continual professional education programs in ART in time of SARS-CoV–2 is clearly present globally. Our virtual Global Education and Webinar Series could deliver evidence-based knowledge to viewers globally and assist them in gaining knowledge – even in a distance learning setting. The Library is an excellent resource tool for ART professionals to gain knowledge at their own pace.

Limitations, reasons for caution

Not all ART professionals have access to high-quality internet facilities. Not all the viewers completed the questionnaire

Wider implications of the findings: Web-based virtual activities can be an excellent tool for knowledge sharing. These outcomes will be used to further develop our virtual educational training program.

Trial registration number

Not applicable

Reproductive life in women with celiac disease; a nationwide, population-based matched cohort study

STUDY QUESTION

How does celiac disease (CD) influence women's reproductive life, both prior to and after the diagnosis?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Prior to the diagnosis of CD, an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes was seen, whereas after the diagnosis, no influence on reproductive outcomes was found.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

CD has been associated with several conditions influencing female reproduction and pregnancy outcomes including spontaneous abortion and stillbirth.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

A nationwide matched cohort study following 6319 women diagnosed with CD and 63166 comparison women and identifying reproductive events between the ages of 15 and 50 years.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Through linkage of several Danish national health registers, we identified all women diagnosed with CD between 1977 and 2016. We identified an age- and sex-matched comparison cohort and obtained data on reproductive outcomes for both cohorts. Adjusted stratified Cox and logistic regression models were used to estimate differences in reproductive outcomes between women with and without CD.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

Comparing women with diagnosed CD with the non-CD women, the chance of pregnancy, live birth and risk of stillbirth, molar and ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion and abortion due to foetal disease was the same. However, prior to being diagnosed, CD women had an excess risk of spontaneous abortion equal to 11 extra spontaneous abortions per 1000 pregnancies (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.22) and 1.62 extra stillbirths per 1000 pregnancies (adjusted OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.33) compared with the non-CD women. In the period 0-2 years prior to diagnosis fewer pregnancies occurred in the undiagnosed CD group, equal to 25 (95% CI: 20-31) fewer pregnancies per 1000 pregnancies compared to the non-CD group and in addition, fewer undiagnosed CD women initiated ART-treatment in this period, corresponding to 4.8 (95% CI: 0.9, 8.7) fewer per 1000 women compared to non-CD women.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Validity of the diagnoses in the registers was not confirmed, but reporting to the registers is mandatory for all hospitals in Denmark. Not all spontaneous abortions will come to attention and be registered, whereas live- and stillbirths, ectopic and molar pregnancies and abortion due to foetal disease are unlikely not to be registered. We adjusted for several confounding factors but residual confounding cannot be ruled out.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

These findings suggest that undiagnosed CD can affect female reproduction and the focus should be on early detection of CD in risk groups.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This study was funded by the Health Research Fund of Central Denmark Region and The Hede Nielsens Foundation, Denmark. The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Sequential FISH analysis using competitive displacement of labelled peptide nucleic acid probes for eight chromosomes in human blastomeres

BACKGROUND

The aim was to introduce a new strategy based on peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes and competitive displacement for using fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) analysis on human blastomeres.

METHODS

Sequential FISH analysis with PNA probes and competitive displacement was performed using three different probe sets. The first set consisted of labelled probe only. The second and third sets included labelled as well as unlabelled probe, corresponding to the labelled probes in the previous cycles. The probes for enumeration were for chromosome 1, 13, 16, 17, 18, 21, X and Y.

RESULTS

The performance of PNA probes was similar to the established DNA probes. The strategy of competitive displacement resulted in a destabilization of already bound probe before the next FISH cycle at only 50 degrees C, which allowed for up to five sequential FISH cycles without loss of signal.

CONCLUSIONS

PNA probes are a good alternative to DNA probes in the present set-up, since the low temperature required both for binding and destabilization of PNA probes minimizes the loss of signal, and several FISH cycles can therefore be carried out before FISH errors occur.