Videoconferencing for resident teaching of subspecialty topics: the pediatric and adolescent gynecology experience at the Hospital for Sick Children.
OBJECTIVE
Videoconferencing enables distance learning and subspecialty teaching. The objective of this study is to describe and evaluate a 3-hour teaching session on Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology held by videoconferencing from the Hospital for Sick Children and broadcast to 8 other Canadian universities.


METHODS
Evaluation forms were completed by attendees on the clinical applicability, content quality, delivery quality, meeting of objectives and overall assessment of each session. Further evaluations asked whether presentations were received clearly, material could be followed, method of videoconferencing seemed too impersonal, and whether there were any technical problems. Presenters were asked for a qualitative assessment of their experience.


METHODS
The teaching session was broadcast from Toronto. Local residents attended and 8 other centers were connected by videoconferencing.


METHODS
Participants were residents at the 9 involved Canadian centers.


METHODS
PowerPoint presentations were shown at each location with rotating views of the 4 presenters. Monitors enabled each location to view fellow participants. After participating in a videoconferenced teaching session, participants were asked to fill out evaluations. Presenters were asked for a qualitative assessment of their experience providing the session.


METHODS
Successful use of videoconferencing as a means of subspecialty resident education.


CONCLUSIONS
There were at most 61 responses to evaluation questions. Presentations were well received; 98.6% of responses were "excellent," "very good," or "good." Comments indicated significant variability in video quality received at different centers. Presenters felt the experience was positive but that there was a lack of connection with the distant audience. Videoconferencing offers opportunities for expanding medical subspecialty education to geographical areas without subspecialty representation. Overall, this experience was positive but recommendations to ensure equal levels of technology at all centers and to enhance the interactive nature of the presentation would be made for future experiences.
Spitzer
Rachel F
RF
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Section of Gynecology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Kives
Sari
S
Ornstein
Melanie
M
Caccia
Nicolette
N
Stephens
Derek
D
Flood
Cathy
C
Allen
Lisa M
LM
D000328:Adult; D020375:Education, Distance; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine; D013038:Specialization; D049269:Videoconferencing