SURVEY |
https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10045-00237 |
Medical Conferences and Continuing Medical Education Programs: Meet, Eat, and Learn—The Untold Story
1,2Department of Anaesthesiology, RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
3Department of Anaesthesiology, MGM Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Corresponding Author: Sowmya MJ Iyengar, Department of Anaesthesiology, RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, Phone: +91 9880574092, e-mail: drsowmyamj80@gmail.com
Received: 09 October 2023; Accepted: 20 November 2023Published on: 20 December 2023
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Medical conferences and continuing medical education (CME) programs are extremely useful for any medical professional.
Most of the surveys conducted in conferences are feedback surveys and focus mostly on the quality of the provided information and the need for improvement of the same. However, the other side of the story remains unsaid, such as the reasons for conference attendance and participant preferences. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused the disruption of conferences and CMEs.
Objective: We aimed to analyze the compliance issues faced by participants during conferences and the choice between online and offline conferences.
Materials and methods: This survey was a paper-based questionnaire with 17 questions. After the Institutional Ethical Committee clearance, the survey was conducted at state and national anesthesiology and critical care conferences held in India from November 2019 to October 2020, followed by an e-mail with two more questions on COVID-19. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data.
Results: In our study, 67.5% of participants felt conferences gave them a learning platform, 69.3% of participants wanted a 3-day conference, and 55.6% preferred it on weekends. About 63.39% of participants were interested in attending conferences with colleagues. Attendees faced several deterrents—35.92% felt work pressure, and 20.55% narrated that permission from the institutional authorities was a deterrent. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 72.5% of participants preferred webinars; out of them, 44.9% of participants opted for offline conferences when the pandemic gets controlled and conditions are favorable.
Conclusion: Practitioners prefer offline CMEs and conferences that are lively and effective, with good topics delivered by experts along with fun-filled hands-on sessions and entertainment.
How to cite this article: Srinivasan R, Iyengar SMJ, Natesh S. Medical Conferences and Continuing Medical Education Programs: Meet, Eat, and Learn—The Untold Story. J Med Sci 2023;9(1–4):00237.
Source of support: Nil
Conflict of interest: Dr Rangalakshmi Srinivasan is associated as the Editorial Board member of this journal and this manuscript was subjected to this journal’s standard review procedures, with this peer review handled independently of this editorial board member and her research group.
Keywords: Conferences, Continuing medical education, Questionnaires, Surveys
INTRODUCTION
Continuing medical education (CME) is defined by the American Association as the educational activities that serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills, performance, and relationships that a medical practitioner uses to provide services to patients, the public, or the profession.1 These activities may take place as live events, conferences, written publications, online programs, audio, video, or other electronic media. Live events such as conferences play an important part in CMEs.
Continuing medical education (CME) was initiated by the American Academy of General Practice, which has required CME for membership since 1947.
Continuing medical education (CME) promotes the upkeep of clinical skills and knowledge and ensures good patient outcomes.
Medical conferences and CMEs are held very often and are attended in large numbers by enthusiastic medical practitioners. Professionals from varying backgrounds are seen attending these conferences. Most of the surveys conducted in conferences and CMEs are feedback surveys and concentrate mostly on the quality of the provided information/update, need for improvement of the same and how it affects the professionals’ medical practice.2
However, the other side of the story remains unsaid, that is, the participant preferences, pros and cons of not only the educational aspect but the extracurricular as well. We, in our study, aim to analyze medical professionals’ preferences, interests, and compliance issues faced while attending the conferences.1
Since early 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak as a pandemic has been a threat to global public health. The disease has spread worldwide, and millions of lives have not only been affected by disease but also by the consequences of compulsory isolation and quarantine.3 In order to cope with the crisis caused by the prolonged pandemic, many conferences were postponed.
In the recent past, there has been development of user-friendly video conferencing applications in our smartphones/computers with stable 4G networks which has made webinars an effective option in training and attending conferences during such pandemics. Now technical boundaries are clear of problems, and fast technical advancements probably resulting in easier access and user-friendly applications. Conferences should adapt to the new normal so that practitioners are up to date with the help of distance learning technologies like videoconferencing, simulators, and e-learning modules.4
OBJECTIVES
Our objective in this study was to analyze the compliance issues faced and preferences of the participants while attending the conference. Our study also tried to analyze the choice between online and offline conferences during and after the pandemic.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A paper-based questionnaire consisting of 17 questions with multiple options was prepared. Institutional Ethical Committee clearance and a no objection certificate was obtained from the organizing committee of each conference for conduct of the survey at the conference.
The survey was conducted at state and national conferences in anesthesiology and critical care held in India from November 2019 to October 2020, wherein the questionnaire was distributed to the participants, who were requested to answer it and return the same to us.
We included faculties from the corporate sector, private freelancing practitioners, teaching faculty, and postgraduates from various medical colleges and hospitals who attended the conferences.
We followed up with the participants by mail with two more questions on the conference during COVID-19 pandemic. Out of the 579 participants, 467 participants responded by e-mail.
Statistical Analysis
The obtained data were summarized with descriptive statistics. The results were expressed in percentages.
RESULTS
A total of 700 questionnaire copies were distributed, of which 579 were returned and considered for data analysis. Of the above, students pursuing postgraduation were 280, anesthesiologists were 237, critical care physicians constituted 25, neuro-anesthetists were 12, pediatric anesthetists were 11, pain management specialists were eight, and superspecialty postgraduates were six (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1: Consort diagram
Reason for Attending Conferences
About 67.5% saw it as a learning platform, 17.6% felt it was a good platform to learn new techniques, 11.5% preferred it for meeting friends and acquaintances, and 3.2% for attending exhibitions (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2: Reason for attending conferences
Participants’ Preference on Timing and Length of Conferences
About 69.3% of participants want a 3-day conference when compared to 30.3% who prefer a 2-day conference. The majority, 55.2%, wanted conferences on weekends, 25.7% on weekdays, whereas 18.1% were okay with any day. Only 0.86% wanted on holidays (Fig. 3).
Fig. 3: Participants’ preference on timing and length of conferences
Preferred to Attend Conferences with Families
A very common scene is to see doctors coming for conferences with family members; however, in our survey, only 2.8% actually preferred to bring family members. About 3.14% want to attend alone, 28.82% with friends, and 62.9% with colleagues.
Participation of Foreign Faculty in Conferences
Foreign faculty participation is a new trend in conferences. About 69.6% feel the present participation is adequate. About 19.52% feel they need more than the existing participation, and 10.88% feel the presence of foreign faculty is not required at all (Fig. 4).
Fig. 4: Participation of Foreign Faculty
Percentage of Lectures Attended
The majority of people, 44.05%, attend about 25–50% of the lectures, while 30% attend 50–70% of lectures. About 21.59% are able to attend <25% of lectures, and a mere 3.1% are able to attend >70% of the scheduled lectures.
Main Highlights of Conferences
Today’s conferences are not just about lectures and learning. The horizon has widened. However, the prime preference of 83.25% of people is still lectures, followed by entertainment for 9.08%, 5% for the varieties of food, and 2.8% for drinking with friends. The opinion is that entertainment and drinking with friends are secondary for a majority of attendees (Fig. 5).
Fig. 5: Main highlights of conferences
Problems Faced by the Attendees in Attending Conferences
On the other hand, participants had several deterrents to attend the conference. About 35.92% felt work pressure, and 27.63% found transportation a major problem. About 20.66% narrated that the Head of Department’s (HODs) permission was a deterrent. About 12.61% felt that surgical colleagues were noncooperative. About 2.25% felt intensive care unit (ICU) pressure as a reason for not attending, and only 1% had no problems attending conferences. They felt all these barriers had to be overcome in order to attend the conference and all sessions (Fig. 6).
Fig. 6: Problems faced by the attendees in attending conferences
Likelihood of Attending All Conferences in a Year by Participants and Effect of Changes in Conference Schedule
Change in schedule during conferences affects routine work of 53.54% of doctors. About 34.37% felt that it affects their work only sometimes, and 12.09% felt it does not affect their work. With multiple conferences happening around the year, only 47.7% were able to attend all the conferences they wished to attend, while 52.33% were unable to attend due to various reasons stated above.
The Standard of Conferences over Time
Over the years, 58.03% felt the standard of the conference had improved. About 29.02% do not know as they are first-time attendees, and 13.05% feel the standards have deteriorated.
Reasons for Attending Medical Technology Exhibitions
Exhibitions are the highlight of every conference. The majority (61.83%) visited these exhibitions to see new products. About 18.83% visited stalls for the freebies. About 10.71% bought books, and 8.64% bought gadgets.
Interest of Postgraduates in Attending General Conferences after Specialization
About 93.33% of postgraduates were interested in attending common conferences even after specialization, whereas 6.66% did not want to attend.
Cost of Conference and Webinar Preference
Conferences do not come free. Various conferences charge varying amounts. About 86.04% felt the cost of was a burden, and 14.06% did not think so. The new trend of conferences is the webinar. About 59.93% feel it will be a substitute for physical conference, while 40.07% feel it cannot replace physical conference.
E-mail-based Questionnaire
The response of the participants by e-mail was as follows—out of 579 e-mails sent, 467 participants responded to the two questions on COVID-19 and the conduct of the conference. About 19.2% did not respond, 72.5% of participants preferred webinar during COVID-19 pandemic, and 8.3% preferred offline conferences.
Type of Conferences
After the pandemic weakened and relative normalcy returned, 44.9% of participants preferred offline conferences, and 35.9% of participants preferred webinars owing to the fear of the pandemic.
DISCUSSION
Continuing medical education (CME) is necessary for ongoing licensing and is critical in maintaining and improving professional expertise and keeping abreast with new updates in the specialty.
Continuing medical education (CME) and workshops go a long way to update and refresh medical education of medical practitioner, helping them to stay updated about latest advances in the medical field, which facilitates better treatment of patients.
In this study, we had three questions where the participants could choose multiple answers in order of their preferences. However, for the ease of statistical analysis, we considered the option with the first preference.
According to our study, most of the delegates think that conferences provide the ideal platform to update knowledge, learn new techniques, and, at the same time, meet new people, catch up old friends, and refresh old memories. They also learn about new technological advances in equipment and techniques. Most of them prefer conferences to be held on weekends due to work pressure and noncooperative surgical colleagues. They prefer to attend with colleagues.
Regarding the participation of international faculty, 70% of attendees felt that this was required to keep abreast of developments and practices around the world. This also can result in exchange of ideas and may throw up opportunities for career enhancement abroad. The majority of faculty feel that they could attend between 25 and 50% of lectures. They found it tiring to attend all lectures continuously for a day.
Attendance of all conferences throughout the year was impossible due to work pressure, seniors’ concurrence, and commitments to surgeons. More than 50% think academic standard of conferences has improved over the years, and 20% think that they have deteriorated. Postgraduates have interest in attending general conferences even after specialization. Exhibition is an attraction at every conference. The majority of attendees visit these exhibitions to see new products, and others visit for the freebies, to buy books and gadgets. The majority of them feel the cost is a burden.
Shewchuk et al.5 did a study on standardized approach to assessing physician expectation and perception of CME. They widely used approaches for evaluating perception of services quality in other fields, and service quality gap model (SERVQUAL) adapted it for CMEs. Certain perspectives were used to develop a CMEQUAL evaluation survey instrument. Feasibility testing was conducted. Data were analyzed, and items were tested for internal consistency.
Cauffman et al.6 reviewed 20 randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies of CMEs. In their review, they reviewed and evaluated 20 RCTs of CME and their effect on physician’s performance and patients’ healthcare outcomes, and the investigators of the trials were interviewed using a standardized interviewed schedule. They found that investigators were most often motivated by earlier research of others or their own earlier research. They stated that CMEs are most effective educational strategies used for new techniques and two-way communication. They also felt that printed and graphic materials in person with locally respected health personnel as educators were effective. The most effective studies were the ones in which the educational methods were cost-effective, and the findings could be generalized to other physician groups, multisite healthcare, and health-related programs. Investigators who were interviewed about their RCTs offered advice for future directions of CME curriculum development and research.
Continuing medical education (CME) participants were individuals willing to complete items regarding expectations before participation and perception after participation in a CME. Out of participants who provided CME quality gap model (CMEQUAL) rating data for the study, 43% rated their overall perceptions of CME activity below their overall expectation. CME activities most clearly met participants’ expectations in providing fair and balanced evidence-based content. Areas of lower priority for participation included opportunities for self-assessment, solving cases, and interactive learning.5
During this survey, it was early days, and webinars were not the order of the day. In the changing scenario with COVID-19 dominating our lives, online webinars or conferences are here to stay. Out of the 467 responses, 72.5% responded that they would prefer online conferences during pandemic but of these responders, 44.9% participants felt that though they prefer webinars owing to the risk of COVID-19 they still would like to meet, eat, and learn after the pandemic controls when conditions become more conducive.
CONCLUSION
In our study, we found that practitioners prefer lively, interactive educational sessions at conferences that have good topics delivered by effective speakers and also have fun-filled training sessions with good entertainment and food. Conferences can be conducted as online webinars during the current COVID-19 pandemic, but most of the participants still would like to attend offline conferences when the pandemic is over.
Limitations
The paper-based questionnaire survey period was limited to 3 months due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, after which we did an e-mail survey after 7 months for their preferences of webinars or offline conferences.
Though the participants gave multiple answers in their order of preference, we considered the first preference for statistical analysis. This study was restricted to anesthesiology conferences in India and could not be extended to other specialties.
ORCID
Sowmya MJ Iyengar https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0962-3234
Swathi Natesh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0815-1116
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