WEBINARS FOR CONTINUOUS MEDICAL EDUCATION DURING COVID-19: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY OF ATTENDEES' PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

Phenomenon: Teaching through virtual learning such as webinars has been found to be a useful medium in continuing medical education for undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, and many similar professional educational streams. COVID 19 pandemic presented an opportunity to innovate teaching and learning method using technologies which allow redesigning virtual online learning and education. To control and combat the spread of the disease, physical attendance at workshops, conferences, and symposiums have come to a halt to observe social distancing measures and distant learning systems hence gained preference. To assess the accessibility, adaptability, and convenience of the medical profession through virtual learning and how effective it was during the COVID-19 pandemic among medical professionals in Pakistan. Approach: 12 CME sessions were conducted through webinars between June to December 2020. The attendees consisted of radiologist/non-radiologist physician /radiology technicians who are clinically practicing in the same capacity at a different hospital and/or clinics around the world. All those who registered and attended the webinar participated in the survey. At the end of each webinar, a feedback survey was shared with all the participants online comprising of pre-structured questions. The participants answered the questions, and the responses were recorded through online polling. The duration of each webinar was 60 to 80 mins. Findings: Total 332 participants attended the first and second webinars comprising of similar set of questions, whereas 82 participants third webinar with a different set of questions to probe the responses of the first two webinars. Most of the participants did not face any technical problem in joining or during the sessions (94.4%) and 68.8% of attendees preferred weekend day (Sunday) as an ideal day for attending webinar. Multitasking was a common trait among attendees’ behavior during webinar activity, the majority of which was related to eating or preparing food. CME based activity through the webinar, almost all attendees agreed to the response (99.2%). Insights: Future after the COVID 19 pandemic regarding continuous medical education is unpredictable, however, a hybrid model of including virtual learnings through various platforms will be more efficiently used.