Survival Radiology: How a popular in-person interactive medical student radiology workshop pivoted online during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background Survival Radiology (SR) is a flagship annual full-day in-person radiology workshop targeted at final year medical students in Singapore to prepare them for internship. Previous in-person editions have consistently received positive reviews from 2014 to 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid online pivot for its sixth edition in 2020. Objectives This study aims to (a) identify key success factors of a traditional in-person medical student radiology workshop, (b) describe the rapid online pivot in 2020 and (c) to identify key success factors for online educational initiatives. Methods Post-workshop survey responses of SR from 2014 to 2020 were evaluated. Likert-scale data were quantitatively analysed, while free-text responses were qualitatively analysed. Results A total of 1248 post-workshop surveys (2014–2020 workshops) and 266 free-text responses (2020 workshop) were received from 2640 participants over the years. Progressive changes that sustained or improved participant feedback for in-person SR workshops included adoption of a case-based approach, utility of ‘live’ audience response systems and incorporation of quizzes with a favourable overall feedback rating of 4.42–4.89 from 2014 to 2019. The webinar version of SR in 2020 became the best-rated edition since inception with a rating of 4.9. Qualitative analysis of feedback from SR 2020 showed that the participants preferred the webinar model, online modes of engagement and interactivity. Conclusion Our experience shows that it is not only possible to successfully pivot online for such workshops, but that blended educational formats utilising online engagements supplemented by in-person activities will be well-received by ‘Generation Z’ learners even after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Future Online Radiology Education: The Importance of Curriculum

“…We first describe how a popular final-year medical student radiology workshop pivoted online during the pandemic: “Survival Radiology” was previously a full-day interactive case-based in-person workshop introducing important and urgent radiological core knowledge expected for interns [ 5 ]. We found that the online platform allowed personalized remote viewing of radiological images and enhanced real-time interactions using online “word cloud” and “image hot spot” audience response systems ( Fig.…”

“…We found that the online platform allowed personalized remote viewing of radiological images and enhanced real-time interactions using online “word cloud” and “image hot spot” audience response systems ( Fig. 1 ) and “live” chat responses from supporting faculty (who were not the main speaker) [ 5 ]. Such contemporaneous feedback and deliberate blending of the most beneficial aspects of existing face-to-face interactions with the strengths of online platforms can improve content delivery and ultimately enhance a learner’s educational experience [ 6 7 ].…”

Teaching medicine web-based with the help of interactive audience response systems

“…Besides, students must participate in lectures and seminars, which usually take place within the hospital. However, the COVID-19 pandemic stopped the bedside and in-class teaching in numerous medical schools and medical training had to be transferred into a digital format [6][7][8][9][10]. Several models of online educational activities like video tutorials as well as video surgeries have been established [11].…”