title: Academic screencasting: internet-based dissemination of ophthalmology grand rounds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare the preferences and attitudes of Ontario ophthalmologists and ophthalmology residents toward screencasting as an educational tool with potential use for continuing medical education (CME) events.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty of 256 participants completed the survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  The surveys were sent to participants by email, with follow-up via telephone. Study participants were urban and rural Ontario ophthalmologists, registered with the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, and University of Toronto ophthalmology residents. Pre-recorded online presentations-screencasts-were used as the main intervention. Online surveys were used to measure multiple variables evaluating the attitudes of the participants toward screencasting. This data was then used for further quantitative and qualitative analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 95% of participants replied favourably to the introduction and future utilization of screencasting for educational purposes. Rural ophthalmologists were the most enthusiastic about future events. Practising in rural Ontario was associated with a higher interest in live broadcasts than practising in urban centres (p < 0.02), an association supported by qualitative data. Qualitative analysis revealed geographic isolation, busy schedules, ease of use/access, and convenience to be the key factors contributing to interest in screencasting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Practising ophthalmologists and residents in Ontario are interested in academic online screencasting. Rural ophthalmologists were more interested in live lectures than their urban colleagues. More research is required to assess the potential of screencasting as a CME tool.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont, Canada.
authors.forename: Roshan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Razik
authors.forename: Zaid
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mammo
authors.forename: Harmeet S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Wai-Ching
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009864:Ontario; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D056164:Teaching Rounds / Q000379:methods*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data