Multi-site videoconference tutorials for medical students in Australia

Smith, Anthony C., White, Megan M., McBride, Craig A., Kimble, Roy M., Armfield, Nigel R., Ware, Robert S. and Coulthard, Mark G. (2012) Multi-site videoconference tutorials for medical students in Australia. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 82 10: 714-719.


Author Smith, Anthony C.
White, Megan M.
McBride, Craig A.
Kimble, Roy M.
Armfield, Nigel R.
Ware, Robert S.
Coulthard, Mark G.
Title Multi-site videoconference tutorials for medical students in Australia
Journal name ANZ Journal of Surgery  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank C)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2012-10
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2012.06212.x
Volume number 82
Issue number 10
ISSN 1445-1433; 1445-2197
Start page 714
End page 719
Total pages 6
Place of publication Richmond, VIC, Australia
Publisher Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia
Collection year 2013
Language eng
Abstract Article first published online: 9 September 2012.
Formatted abstract Background:
About two-thirds of medical students are distributed among the major
metropolitan tertiary teaching hospitals in Queensland, while the remainder are sent to regional hospitals up to 500 km away. The aim of this study was to investigate the
feasibility and effectiveness of conducting surgical tutorials via videoconferencing
(VC) for medical students undertaking at remote hospitals.

Methods:
Surgical tutorials were offered to final-year medical students at the Royal
Children’s Hospital (RCH) in Brisbane and shared by VC to students undertaking
clinical placement at nine remotely located hospitals in Queensland. We have conducted a retrospective review of service activity, student satisfaction and subject scores from 2008 to 2010. The main outcome measures were VC activity, medical students’ satisfaction and student exam results pre- and post-introduction of the surgical tutorial programme.

Results:
Between March 2009 and November 2010, a total of 57 VC tutorials were
conducted during nine rotations for a total of 669 students. Approximately, 35% of
students (236) attended tutorials face-to-face at the RCH while the remainder (including those at the Mater Children’s Hospital in Brisbane and eight regional sites)
participated via VC. A snapshot survey to measure satisfaction of both groups of
students showed that overall satisfaction was very high. A total of 299 students
completed the paediatrics and child health multiple-station assessment task exam in
2008, 326 in 2009 and 382 in 2010. The pre-intervention (tutorials not delivered by
VC) median scores (interquartile range) of surgical and non-surgical questions were 5 (4–6) and 23 (21–25). Post-intervention, surgical scores increased significantly to 6
(5–7) (P < 0.001), while non-surgical scores remained similar at 23 (21–25) (P = 0.64).

Conclusions:
Our study demonstrates that VC is a feasible and effective method of
engaging medical students regardless of their location. VC provides equitable access
to medical teaching for medical students undertaking remote clinical placements.
Keyword Teaching
Telemedicine
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ

 
Versions
Version Filter Type
Citation counts: TR Web of Science Citation Count  Cited 0 times in Thomson Reuters Web of Science Article
Scopus Citation Count Cited 0 times in Scopus Article
Google Scholar Search Google Scholar
Access Statistics: 39 Abstract Views  -  Detailed Statistics
Created: Tue, 09 Oct 2012, 10:20:49 EST by Burke, Eliza on behalf of Centre for On-Line Health