title: Introducing videoconferencing into educational oncopathology seminars: technical aspects, user satisfaction and open issues.
abstract: We used set-top videoconferencing equipment connected by ISDN at 384 kbit/s for six educational seminars held between the University of Udine (the local site) and the National Cancer Institute in Aviano (the remote site), 60 km away. User satisfaction was evaluated by questionnaire. The median length of seminars was 58 min (range 48-61 min), followed by a 20 min (15-26 min) discussion. Eighty-two users answered the questionnaire (a 43% response rate): 56 in Udine (a median of 11 per seminar) and 26 in Aviano (a median of 5 per seminar). Answers to the questions were similar at the two sites. Videoconferencing did not affect the users' experience of attending the seminars, as both interest and clarity were similar at the local and remote site. The results suggested that videoconferencing is a viable method for delivering seminars in oncopathology, where image quality is important.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Udine, Italy. dellamea@dimi.uniud.it
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Della Mea
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.forename: Ermes
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Greatti
authors.forename: Carlo A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Beltrami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D020375:Education, Distance / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000193:education*; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000592:standards*; D019113:Telepathology / Q000592:standards*