Comparison of Virtual and In-Person ATS Methods in Epidemiologic, Clinical, and Operations Research Programs

Background: The Methods in Epidemiologic, Clinical, and Operations Research (MECOR) program of the American Thoracic Society aims to strengthen research capacity in low- and middle-income countries. Objective: To compare the impact of online versus in-person MECOR level 1 and level 2 courses in Türkiye on program and research project completion rates and to understand student preferences for alternative program delivery. Methods: We enrolled all students who participated in MECOR Türkiye level 1 courses from 2020 to 2023. Through an online questionnaire, we collected information on progress of the research project developed at MECOR levels 1 and 2 and the students' progression through the end of the program. Research project progression (from design to data analysis) and three-level MECOR course completion was compared between the delivery methods, and student preference of online versus in-person courses was evaluated. Results: Sixty-five students attended MECOR course level 1 from 2020 to 2023, among whom 61 responded to the questionnaire. For the level 1 course, there was no statistical difference in completion rates of research projects in online versus in-person courses (P = 0.22). The preference for online teaching was higher (40%) among those who attended the online offering than among those who attended the in-person course (9.8%; P = 0.005). Forty students attended a MECOR level 2 course; numerically more students (87.5%) who attended an in-person course were at a data collection/analysis stage of their research project compared with the online students (56.3%; P = 0.10). At level 2, 12 students (37.5%) who attended online and 4 (50%) who attended in person also completed level 3 (P = 0.56). There was no significant difference between the groups who took level 2 in person versus online in preference of course format (78.1% and 87.5% preferred in-person level 2, respectively; P = 0.86). Conclusion: Completion rates of research projects planned during the course and the overall program completion were not significantly affected by the virtual or in-person nature of the level 1 or level 2 MECOR courses, and the students' preferences for virtual courses vary depending on their own experience.