International Microsurgery Club Webinar Series—Bridging the Knowledge Gap during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak shut down most conferences. To minimalize the influence, virtual meetings sprang up subsequently. International Microsurgery Club (IMC), as one of the largest professionals-only online microsurgery education groups worldwide, began to host regular weekend webinars during the pandemic to fill the knowledge gap. This study aims to discuss how webinars have fundamentally changed the way knowledge is delivered and exchanged.

Methods From February 29, 2020 to March 14, 2021, 103 IMC webinars were reviewed and analyzed in detail to determine the use, benefit, and effect. A comparison between webinars hosted by the different societies was made as well. A questionnaire survey focusing on attendees' behavior, attitude, and using habit about webinars was also made.

Results As for the 103 IMC webinar events, the peak participants were 112.3 people in average. The members requesting to join IMC abruptly increased during the pandemic, and the group activity increased dramatically. From the questionnaire (n = 68), the satisfaction level was high (8.88 ± 1.18/10). The respondents were most satisfied with the good quality of the speakers (73.5%). Not only hosts our webinar series but IMC also serves as the platform that welcomes webinars from other societies to share their information. In September 2020, International Microsurgery Webinar League was established via the significant webinar hosts, with more than 300 recorded webinar talks connected successfully.

Conclusion As the knowledge revolution driven by COVID-19 will continue, IMC will keep playing an essential role in exploring new and emerging opportunities to improve knowledge dissemination worldwide beyond the space-time boundary.

Keywords

COVID-19 - webinar - international microsurgery club

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 17. Dezember 2020

Angenommen: 12. Mai 2021

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
07. September 2021

• References

• 1 Navia A, Berner JE, Pereira N, Reissis D, Rakhorst H, Cuadra A. Have we passed the peak? The COVID-19 plastic surgery webinar pandemic. Aesthet Surg J 2020; 40 (09) NP569-NP573
• 2 International Microsurgeons Club [Internet]. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1702063276733451 . Accessed May 30, 2021
• 3 Kwon SH, Goh R, Wang ZT. et al. Tips for making a successful online microsurgery educational platform: the experience of International Microsurgery Club. Plast Reconstr Surg 2019; 143 (01) 221e-233e
• 4 Chang TN. Knowledge revolution through online interactive platform: International Microsurgery Club. Int Microsurg J 2017; 1 (02) 1
• 5 Lin JA, Omar UF, Mateev M, Chang TN. From virtuality to reality - social media facilitates the interaction between global microsurgeons. Int Microsurg J 2017; 1 (03) 2
• 6 Tang ET, Goh M, Goh R. et al. International Microsurgery Club: an effective online collaboration system. J Reconstr Microsurg 2020; 36 (06) 412-419
• 7 Chang TN, Hsieh F, Wang ZT, Kwon SH, Lin JA, Tang ET. Social media mediate the education of the global microsurgeons: The experience from International Microsurgery Club. Microsurgery 2018; 38 (05) 596-597
• 8 Lin JA, Hsu AT, Huang JJ. et al. Impact of social media on current medical conferences. J Reconstr Microsurg 2019; 35 (06) 452-461
• 9 Kwon SH, Lao WW, Hsu AT. et al. The preferred management of a single-digit distal phalanx amputation. J Reconstr Microsurg 2020; 36 (04) 301-310
• 10 Kwon SH, Lee CH, Hsu AT. et al. Use of social media and an online survey to discuss complex reconstructive surgery: a case of upper lip reconstruction with 402 responses from international microsurgeons. J Reconstr Microsurg 2018; 34 (06) 413-419
• 11 Reissis D, Joji N, Campbell E, Sharma VP, Staruch RMT, Baker BG. PLASTA National Webinar Series: a developing model for remote surgical education. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2020; 73 (08) 1575-1592
• 12 Santamaría E, Nahás-Combina L, Altamirano-Arcos C, Vargas-Flores E. Master series microsurgery for residents: results from a comprehensive survey of a multitudinous online course during COVID-19 pandemic. J Reconstr Microsurg 2021; 37 (07) 602-607
• 13 Chi D, Chen AD, Dorante MI, Lee BT, Sacks JM. Plastic surgery in the time of COVID-19. J Reconstr Microsurg 2021; 37 (02) 124-131
• 14 Cho MJ, Hong JP. The emergence of virtual education during the COVID-19 pandemic: The past, present, and future of the plastic surgery education. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2021:S1748-6815(21)00033-4
• 15 Goodman Leo A. Snowball sampling. Ann Math Stat 1961; 32: 148-170
• 16 Kosinski M, Matz SC, Gosling SD, Popov V, Stillwell D. Facebook as a research tool for the social sciences: opportunities, challenges, ethical considerations, and practical guidelines. Am Psychol 2015; 70 (06) 543-556
• 17 Boparai JK, Singh S, Kathuria P. How to design and validate a questionnaire: a guide. Curr Clin Pharmacol 2018; 13 (04) 210-215
• 18 Knipfer C, Wagner F, Knipfer K. et al. Learners' acceptance of a webinar for continuing medical education. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2019; 48 (06) 841-846
• 19 Sura K, Lischalk JW, Leckie J, Welsh JS, Mundt AJ, Fernandez E. Webinar-based contouring education for residents. J Am Coll Radiol 2017; 14 (08) 1074-1079.e3
• 20 Khincha PP, Chauhan V, Ekwobi CC. COVID-19: the impetus for change-sustaining healthcare team communication in times of social distancing. Eur J Plast Surg 2020; 1-4
• 21 Rogers EM. Diffusion of Innovations. 1st edition. New York: Free Press of Glencoe; 1962
• 22 Zhang X, Yu P, Yan J, Ton A M Spil I. Using diffusion of innovation theory to understand the factors impacting patient acceptance and use of consumer e-health innovations: a case study in a primary care clinic. BMC Health Serv Res 2015; 15: 71
• 23 Mangelsdorff G, Yañez R, Rodriguez JR. First experience of the International Microsurgery Journal Club through Facebook Live. J Reconstr Microsurg Open 2019; 4 (02) e64