title: Telemedicine for gastrointestinal endoscopy: The Endoscopic Club E-conference in the Asia Pacific Region.
abstract: Background and study aimsAn Endoscopic Club E-conference (ECE) was set up in May 2014 to cater to increased demand for gastrointestinal endoscopy-related teleconferences in the Asia-Pacific region which were traditionally organized by the medical working group (MWG) of Asia-Pacific Advanced Network. This study describes how the ECE meeting was run, examines the group dynamics, outlines feedback and analyzes factors affecting the enthusiasm of participants. It is hoped that the findings here can serve as guidance for future development of other teleconference groups.MethodsThe preparation, running of and feedback on the ECE teleconference were evaluated and described. The country's economic situation, time zone differences, connectivity with a research and education network (REN) and engineering cooperation of each member were recorded and analyzed with regard to their association with participant enthusiasm, which was taken as participation in at least 50 % of the meetings since joining. Associations were calculated using 2-way table with chi-square test to generate odds ratio andPvalue.ResultsTo date, ECE members have increased from 7 to 29 (increment of 314 %). Feedback received indicated a high level of satisfaction with program content, audiovisual transmission and ease of technical preparation. Upper gastrointestinal luminal endoscopy-related topics were the most favored program content. Those topics were presented mainly via case studies with a focus on management challenges. Time zone differences of more than 6 hours and poor engineering cooperation were independently associated with inactive participation (Pvalues of 0.04 and 0.001 respectively).ConclusionsGood program content and high-quality audiovisual transmission are keys to the success of an endoscopic medical teleconference. In our analysis, poor engineering cooperation and discordant time zones contributed to inactive participation while connectivity with REN and a country's economic situation were not significantly associated with participant enthusiasm.
authors.affiliation: University of Malaya Medical Centre - Department of Medicine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Shiaw-Hooi
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Chulalonkorn University - Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Rungsun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rerknimitr
authors.affiliation: Kyushu University Hospital - Telemedicine Development Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kuriko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.affiliation: Kyushu University Hospital - Telemedicine Development Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomimatsu
authors.affiliation: University of Malaya Medical Centre - Department of Information Technology.
authors.forename: Mohamad Zahir
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Kyushu University - Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aso
authors.affiliation: Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Wan
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: University of Malaya Medical Centre - Department of Medicine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Khean-Lee
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.affiliation: Kyushu University Hospital - Department of Endoscopic Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimizu