Assessing competency for remote telecytology rapid on-site evaluation using pre-recorded dynamic video streaming

Area of Science:

• Medical Technology
• Digital Pathology
• Cytopathology

Background:

• Telecytology, utilizing real-time microscopy for rapid on-site evaluations (ROSE), is increasingly adopted in cytopathology.
• Current proficiency testing methods in cytopathology do not extend to telecytology.
• There is a need for a standardized competency assessment for telecytology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the feasibility of a dynamic, real-time platform for assessing telecytology competency.
• To develop and evaluate a novel tool for evaluating performance in telecytology-based ROSE.
• To provide feedback on the competency of cytopathologists and cytotechnologists using telecytology.

Main Methods:

• A dynamic (real-time) video streaming platform was used to record telecytology cases during ROSE sessions.
• Short MP4 video clips (mean 33 seconds) with clinical histories were compiled into a web-based multiple-choice test.
• The test, hosted on Tutor (Philips) software, included one training and 20 test cases for voluntary participation.

Main Results:

• Thirteen participants (4 cytopathologists, 9 cytotechnologists) completed the voluntary test.
• Individual scores ranged from 50% to 95%, with a median score of 80%.
• The majority of participant feedback pertained to technical difficulties encountered during the test.

Conclusions:

• This study presents the first tool to assess telecytology competency for ROSE using pre-recorded dynamic streaming videos.
• The developed test platform was feasible and offered valuable performance feedback despite technical challenges.
• Future work will focus on enhancing user-friendliness and establishing passing score benchmarks for telecytology competency assessment.