Tyler Lazaro1, Visish M Srinivasan1, Maryam Rahman2, Ashok Asthagiri3, Garni Barkhoudarian4, Lola B Chambless5, Peter Kan6, Ganesh Rao1, Brian V Nahed7, Akash J Patel1,8,9. 1. Departments of1Neurosurgery and. 2. 3University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida. 3. 4John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California. 4. 5University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia. 5. 6Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee. 6. 7Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine, Houston, Texas. 7. 8Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; and. 8. 2Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. 9. 9Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Neurosurgical education in the US has changed significantly as a consequence of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Institutional social distancing requirements have resulted in many neurosurgical programs utilizing video conferencing for educational activities. However, it is unclear how or if these practices should continue after the pandemic. The objective of this study was to characterize virtual education in neurosurgery and understand how it should be utilized after COVID-19. METHODS: A 24-question, 3-part online survey was administered anonymously to all 117 US neurosurgical residency programs from May 15, 2020, to June 15, 2020. Questions pertained to the current use of virtual conferencing, preferences over traditional conferences, and future inclinations. The Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 3 = neutral, 5 = strongly agree) was used. Comparisons were calculated using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Statistical significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS: One-hundred eight responses were recorded. Overall, 38 respondents (35.2%) were attendings and 70 (64.8%) were trainees. Forty-one respondents (38.0%) indicated attending 5-6 conferences per week and 70 (64.8%) attend national virtual conferences. When considering different conference types, there was no overall preference (scores < 3) for virtual conferences over traditional conferences. In regard to future use, respondents strongly agreed that they would continue the practice at some capacity after the pandemic (median score 5). Overall, respondents agreed that virtual conferences would partially replace traditional conferences (median score 4), whereas they strongly disagreed with the complete replacement of traditional conferences (median score 1). The most common choices for the partial replacement of tradition conferences were case conferences (59/108, 55%) and board preparation (64/108, 59%). Lastly, there was a significant difference in scores for continued use of virtual conferencing in those who attend nationally sponsored conferences (median score 5, n = 70) and those who do not (median score 4, n = 38; U = 1762.50, z = 2.97, r = 0.29, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Virtual conferences will likely remain an integral part of neurosurgical education after the COVID-19 pandemic has abated. Across the country, residents and faculty report a preference for continued use of virtual conferencing, especially virtual case conferences and board preparation. Some traditional conferences may even be replaced with virtual conferences, in particular those that are more didactic. Furthermore, nationally sponsored virtual conferences have a positive effect on the preferences for continued use of virtual conferences.
OBJECTIVE: Neurosurgical education in the US has changed significantly as a consequence of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Institutional social distancing requirements have resulted in many neurosurgical programs utilizing video conferencing for educational activities. However, it is unclear how or if these practices should continue after the pandemic. The objective of this study was to characterize virtual education in neurosurgery and understand how it should be utilized after COVID-19. METHODS: A 24-question, 3-part online survey was administered anonymously to all 117 US neurosurgical residency programs from May 15, 2020, to June 15, 2020. Questions pertained to the current use of virtual conferencing, preferences over traditional conferences, and future inclinations. The Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 3 = neutral, 5 = strongly agree) was used. Comparisons were calculated using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Statistical significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS: One-hundred eight responses were recorded. Overall, 38 respondents (35.2%) were attendings and 70 (64.8%) were trainees. Forty-one respondents (38.0%) indicated attending 5-6 conferences per week and 70 (64.8%) attend national virtual conferences. When considering different conference types, there was no overall preference (scores < 3) for virtual conferences over traditional conferences. In regard to future use, respondents strongly agreed that they would continue the practice at some capacity after the pandemic (median score 5). Overall, respondents agreed that virtual conferences would partially replace traditional conferences (median score 4), whereas they strongly disagreed with the complete replacement of traditional conferences (median score 1). The most common choices for the partial replacement of tradition conferences were case conferences (59/108, 55%) and board preparation (64/108, 59%). Lastly, there was a significant difference in scores for continued use of virtual conferencing in those who attend nationally sponsored conferences (median score 5, n = 70) and those who do not (median score 4, n = 38; U = 1762.50, z = 2.97, r = 0.29, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Virtual conferences will likely remain an integral part of neurosurgical education after the COVID-19 pandemic has abated. Across the country, residents and faculty report a preference for continued use of virtual conferencing, especially virtual case conferences and board preparation. Some traditional conferences may even be replaced with virtual conferences, in particular those that are more didactic. Furthermore, nationally sponsored virtual conferences have a positive effect on the preferences for continued use of virtual conferences.
Authors: R Sterling Haring; Leslie K Rydberg; Michael K Mallow; Patrick Kortebein; Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez Journal: Am J Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2022-02-01 Impact factor: 2.159
Authors: George E Richardson; Conor S Gillespie; Soham Bandyopadhyay; Emma J Norton; Jigi M Joshi; Orla Mantle; Catinca Ciuculete; Armin Nazari; John Ong; Ajitesh Anand; Jay Park; Rosaline De Koning; Setthasorn Zhi Yang Ooi; Joshua Erhabor; Harmani K Daler; Bailint Borbas; Zeluleko Sibanda; Illectra Lerou; Alvaro Y Touzet; Phil Mcelnay; Suzanne Murray; Peter J Hutchinson; Alistair Jenkins Journal: Cureus Date: 2022-01-12