Morbidity and mortality as a televideoconference: a randomized prospective evaluation of learning and perceptions

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Technology
• Surgical Training

Background:

• Central morbidity and mortality conferences are crucial for medical education but involve commuting time for multi-site programs.
• Internet-based televideoconferencing (TVC) offers a solution to eliminate commuting, expand participation, and maintain instructional quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and participant perception of using televideoconferencing (TVC) for morbidity and mortality conferences.
• To compare learning outcomes and conference effectiveness between live and remote TVC participation.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, randomized pilot study compared a control group (live conference) with an experimental group (remote TVC).
• 78 participants (faculty, residents, medical students) completed surveys assessing learning, effectiveness, and appeal after the conference.

Main Results:

• Learning outcomes were comparable between the home (live) and remote TVC groups (p = 0.47).
• TVC was perceived as slightly less effective than in-person attendance but preferable to commuting, with preference increasing with distance.
• Participant comfort varied, with higher comfort in presenting than in asking questions or discussing.

Conclusions:

• Televideoconferencing (TVC) is a viable tool for morbidity and mortality conferences, not hindering learning.
• TVC offers a practical solution to maximize educational efficiency and opportunities in multi-site training programs.
• The study highlights TVC's potential to overcome logistical challenges in medical education conferences.