Videoconferencing Journal Club for Dermatology Residency Training: An Attitude Study

Abstract

The use of videoconferencing as a teaching modality in dermatology is not widespread. The objectives of this study were to introduce the videoconferencing format to dermatology journal clubs and to determine its effects on the training and satisfaction of house officers (residents). Ten dermatology house officers participated in this study. They were being trained at three university hospitals in rotation. A videoconferencing facility maintained by the hospitals for remote conferencing was used. After completing a 1-year journal club programme, house officers were asked about their satisfaction levels on a 5-point Likert scale using a questionnaire. Videoconferencing meant that the house officers and attending physicians from sister hospitals remained at their own hospitals, thus saving much time. Using videoconferencing the journal club could be held more frequently and more articles could be studied. In general the participants' satisfaction with the videoconferencing journal club was high. The adoption of videoconferencing produced promising results, increasing the efficiency of house officer training.