An Assessment of Pathology Resident Access to and Use of Technology: A Nationwide Survey

Abstract

Context.-Current technologies including digital slide scanners and handheld devices can revolutionize clinical practice and pathology graduate medical education (GME). The extent to which these technologies are used in pathology GME is unknown.Objectives.-To determine the types of technologies used, usage amount, and how they are integrated into pathology residency/fellowship programs nationwide.Design.-A 40-question online survey for residents/ fellows was developed and administered via the Research Electronic Data Capture System after institutional review board approval.Results.-Fifty-two program directors (37%) gave permission for participation. One-hundred seventy-one responses were received (18% response rate Program size was significantly positively correlated with resident access to program-provided laptops (P ¼ .02) and tablets (P , .001), digital slide scanners (P ¼ .01), and telepathology (P ¼ .001). Of all devices, program-provided laptops are used most for professional work (60.5% use this device for more than 5 hours per day).Conclusions.-Most residents report access to multiple types of innovative technology, but incorporation of these tools within pathology training programs is highly variable. Opportunities for incorporating innovative technologies exist and could be further explored.

Current opinion, status and future development of digital pathology in Switzerland

“…The surveys in Canada12 and India13 were conducted in 2013 and 2014, respectively, which in this rapidly moving field may already be considered outdated. In Sweden and in the USA14 16 only residents were considered for their surveys. The 89% of pathologists who reported working with digital slides during our survey is on par with the 85% in Canada,12 60% in the UK,15 62% in Sweden, 66% in India13 and 82% in the USA16 (figure 4A).…”

“…In Sweden and in the USA14 16 only residents were considered for their surveys. The 89% of pathologists who reported working with digital slides during our survey is on par with the 85% in Canada,12 60% in the UK,15 62% in Sweden, 66% in India13 and 82% in the USA16 (figure 4A). The experience with image analysis programmes is similar between countries with 31% in Switzerland, 37% in Canada and 31% in the UK.…”

Virtual Microscopy in Undergraduate Pathology Education

“…VM has already entered the arena of graduate medical education in histopathology, haematology and dermatology, wherein large libraries of digitised slides, available via open access or through subscription, enable the mastery of a range of disease diagnoses beyond the confines of clinical training sites. 18 , 19 In a nation-wide survey in the USA across 52 histopathology residency programmes, 82% used web-based digital slide collections. 18 In-training and certification examinations now use a VM platform.…”

Mobile app technology is associated with improved otolaryngology resident in‐service performance

“…[3][4][5] Smartphone, tablet, and web-based presentation of question banks, readings, and clinical vignettes have been shown to be helpful in delivering educational content to trainees. [6][7][8][9] For example, Hsueh et al recently published improvement in otolaryngology OTE performance for junior residents when using a mobile app platform that allowed primary literature resource sharing and associated multiple-choice questions. 10 Given that 89% of individuals with a college degree own a smartphone, [11][12][13][14] mobile technology is a media platform ideal for content delivery and high educational efficiency in residency due to its universal access among residents.…”

“…Hard‐copy textbooks have historically been the gold standard; however, electronic media continues to grow with the newer generation of medical professionals . Smartphone, tablet, and web‐based presentation of question banks, readings, and clinical vignettes have been shown to be helpful in delivering educational content to trainees . For example, Hsueh et al recently published improvement in otolaryngology OTE performance for junior residents when using a mobile app platform that allowed primary literature resource sharing and associated multiple‐choice questions .…”