The perceived impact of webinars during the COVID.19 pandemic: A survey of ophthalmology trainees from India

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess the perceived utility and the impact of web-based teaching programs being conducted following the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: An online survey was sent to trainee ophthalmologists across India through various social media platforms. The responses were tabulated and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 768 valid responses were recorded. Majority of respondents (52.2%) felt that the ideal duration for webinars was 1 hour or less. Factors that helped trainees in choosing a webinar were the topic (95.1%), the timing (53.6%), and the speaker list (42.4%). Residents indicated a preference for webinars to attend aimed at postgraduate residency training, more specifically clinical problem-solving. Further questions were answered using a 1-10 Likert scale (1: least useful and 10: extremely useful). The median score when asked for overall usefulness of the webinars in general was 8 (interquartile range/IQR: 2). The median response when asked about utility of webinars in enhancing theoretical knowledge was 8 (IQR: 2) and the median for utility of webinar-based teaching programs in enhancing practical knowledge/surgical learning was also 8 (IQR: 2). The median score when asked about the utility of the webinar programs in acquiring skills for writing research papers/thesis was 7 (IQR: 3). Connectivity issues, audio/voice issues, and the long duration of webinars were some of the problems faced while attending webinars. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmology trainees in India found online teaching programs and webinars to be useful in enhancing their theoretical knowledge and practical skills/surgical learning. Administrators and educational institutes should tailor online teaching programs as per the needs and preferences of the residents.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ophthalmology Residents: A Narrative Review

“…Another cross-sectional study conducted in India, assessing the impact of the webinars on the residents’ learning during the pandemic, revealed that 75% of residents positively graded webinars as a good/very good academic tool and nearly 77% of them admitted that they gained substantial knowledge of the topic in question [ 28 ]. The positive perception and usefulness of webinars in enhancing theoretical knowledge and practical skills were also confirmed in another survey study among Indian ophthalmology residents conducted by Mishra et al [ 13 , 17 ]. They revealed that 74% of residents preferred webinars based on their residency curriculum with clinical problem-solving as the specific area of interest (40.9%) and the ideal duration of webinars between 60 and 120 min [ 13 ].…”

“…Wang et al [ 35 ] also found that up-to-date and accurate health information (e.g., treatment, local outbreak situation) and precautionary measures (e.g., hand hygiene, wearing a mask) were associated with a lower psychological impact and lower stress, anxiety, and depression in the general Chinese population. Consistent with these findings, a study conducted by Mishra et al [ 17 ], wherein stress levels among participants were significant, showed that approximately 65% of those who were on COVID-19 duties felt that the PPE they were using was inadequate. In contrast, most surveyed trainees in Saudi Arabia experienced depressive symptoms, which were noted in over half of them, but were provided with adequate PPE, built-in shields for slit lamps, and updated protocols on how to limit SARS-CoV-2 transmission [ 9 , 11 ].…”

“…Similarly, most of the responders from Cairo hospitals had a higher level of anxiety related to the pandemic after grading their psychological concerns [ 16 ]. The above-mentioned study, conducted among young ophthalmologists, revealed that almost 56% felt unlucky starting ophthalmic practice during the COVID-19 era, whereas 19% regretted becoming physicians, and 30% even considered a career shift [ 17 ].…”

“…Other concerns described by Szigiato et al [ 14 ] among trainees included the fear of spreading the virus to patients (74% agree/strongly agree) or family and friends (86% agree/strongly agree). Moreover, the feelings of isolation and loss of the integral community due to the introduced restrictions during lockdowns were also observed [ 13 , 17 ]. Rakowsky et al [ 21 ] described the chief trainees who emphasized their role in helping trainees remain connected and unified regardless of their clinical rotation, which was conducted by encouraging teams in the hospital and implementing online discussion forums and video conferencing to achieve these goals.…”

“…The suggestions from trainees surveyed in the United Kingdom on how ophthalmic specialist training could be improved during the pandemic included, among others, more simulations and wet laboratory opportunities [ 17 , 18 ]. Similarly, trainees from Cairo mostly preferred simulation training compared to wet laboratories and video sessions [ 16 ].…”