title: The effectiveness of a scientific symposium to change urologists' attitude towards treatment of LUTS/BPH.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The use of interactive voting systems in continuing education helps to evaluate the alteration in the audience's views after a presentation. This study was designed to evaluate whether urologists' attitude towards management of benign prostate hyperplasia can be changed, and to estimate objectively the achievement of educational goals by using an interactive voting system.
  
  
  METHODS
  The audience attitude was repetitively estimated by responding to questions using wireless keypads. Educational goal achievement was calculated by adding the percentage of those changing their opinion from "wrong" to "right" and that of those insisting on their initial "right" opinion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Giving a "wrong" answer and the probability of opinion change were independent of age and board certification. Being initially on the "wrong" side resulted in a greater probability of opinion change. The educational goals were achieved in 20.8-86.2% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Satellite symposia are helpful learning environments. The use of an interactive voting system may help to evaluate objectively the achievement of educational goals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Laikon Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, 17, Ag. Thoma, Athens, 11528, Greece. dmp@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Dionisios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mitropoulos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moutzouris
authors.forename: Vaios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perimenis
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sofras
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D003657:Decision Making; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000628:therapy*; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000628:therapy*