Global survey to assess preferences for attending virtual orthodontic learning sessions

Nowadays, there is a tremendous increase in the conducting of virtual orthodontic learning sessions (VOLSs). This study aimed to investigate the fundamental technical and settings aspects of VOLSs.

Three thousand orthodontic residents and specialists worldwide were invited via e-mail to complete an anonymous survey, including 23 prevalidated questions. Reminders were sent at 2-week intervals. When the sample size was reached, the survey was locked. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed.

Two hundred ninety-four males and 299 females of various age groups completed the survey; 61.9% of the participants opted to view the speaker's live video and the presentation's screen concurrently. Participants favored a speaker/screen ratio of 1:6 (57.5%), e-housekeeping before VOLSs (58%), appointed moderators for each VOLS (8.31 out of 10; 95% CI: 8.13, 8.48), and a nondistractive virtual background for the speakers/moderators (21.9%). Participants supported broadcasting before the start of the lecture of the VOLS (6.7 out of 10; 95% CI: 6.50, 6.95), with this being significantly influenced by the gender of participants and their continent of residence (P <0.001). Only 17.4% opted against live streaming of the VOLSs. Muting the attendees' microphones (90.5%) and having their videos switched off (62.39%) was preferable; 49.4% used their personal computers to view the lecture, whereas 27.5% used mobile phones. A webinar of 60-90 minutes duration was preferred by 76.6% of the VOLSs participants; 53.1% of the participants opted for a questions and answers session at the end of VOLSs.

Organizers should take into consideration the impact of the digital body language of the speaker, the role of the moderator, cultural background, and privacy concerns of the attendees while organizing VOLSs. Orthodontic clinicians prefer to spend 60-90 minutes attending an interactive online session in which they can raise their questions during and at the end of the VOLSs.