Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the educational value of a national virtual fracture conference implemented during the COVID-19 disruption of resident education.
Design: Survey study.
Setting: National virtual conference administered by the Orthopaedic Trauma Association.
Participants: Attendees of virtual fracture conference.
Intervention: Participation at a national virtual fracture conference.
Main outcome measure: Surveys of perception of quality and value of virtual conferences relative to in-person conferences.
Results: Ninety-six percent of participants rated the virtual fracture conference as similar or improved educational quality relative to conventional in-person fracture conference. Participants also felt they learned as much (35%) or more (57%) at each virtual fracture conference compared to the amount learned in-person. The quality of interpersonal interactions at both the resident-faculty level and faculty-faculty level was also perceived to be overall superior to those at participants' own institutions. Learners felt they were more likely to engage the primary literature as well. Overall, 100% of participants were likely to recommend virtual conference to their colleagues and 100% recommended continuing this conference even after COVID-19 issues resolve.
Conclusions: We found that learners find significant educational value in a national virtual fracture conference compared to in-person fracture conferences at their own institution. COVID-19 has proven to be a disruptor not only in health care but in medical education as well, accelerating our adoption of innovative and novel resident didactics.
Level of evidence: Therapeutic Level III.
Keywords: education; ortho; resident; trauma.
Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association.