Training by satellite: planning and evaluating a video conference for injury prevention practitioners

A non-experimental design was employed to conduct both a process and impact evaluation of a video conference for injury control specialists and other community members. The video conference was designed to teach participants how to conceptualize, develop, and implement community-based injury and violence prevention programs. The six-hour event was broadcast to 120 sites all across the United States and had a total of 1270 participants. The video conference format included a panel of injury control specialists and a moderator, video and audio clips that were shown throughout the program, on and off screen activities for participants, and an opportunity for participants to ask questions of the panel. Three groups were included in the evaluation sample: participants; site facilitators; and stakeholders; which included the planning committee members, conference speakers, moderator, and audiovisual personnel. Evaluation data were collected by telephone and in-person interviews, focus groups, and surveys completed at all the viewing sites. Results showed that there was high satisfaction among the participants and that the program should be continued as a series of video conferences with a changing content. There was lower satisfaction with the on-line activities, applicability of material to their work, and the opportunity to network with others and to participate in discussion. Recommendations made for improving future programs include shortening the video conference program, focusing on specific issues within injury and violence prevention, training the program presenters on the workings of the satellite video conference technology, use of video streaming, and using web-based forms for registration and evaluation.