Training for surgeons using digital satellite television and videoconferencing.

The TETRASUR project (TELematics TRAining for SURgeons) has investigated the effectiveness of distance-learning technologies in the delivery of training for doctors who are studying for membership of the Royal College of Surgeons. Digital satellite television receivers and ISDN videoconferencing equipment have been installed in hospitals to deliver the course modules, including a series of live television programmes transmitted by satellite. ISDN videoconferencing was integrated, live, into the satellite broadcasts to bring in guest lecturers and for interactive discussions with the trainee doctors. Videoconferencing was also used for seminars and discussion groups. These methods proved to be effective and popular with the doctors, although there was some dissatisfaction with the visual quality of the ISDN videoconferencing at 128 kbit/s. Efforts are now being made to improve the quality of the video feed from remote sites using ISDN at 384 kbit/s.