Virtual student-led neuroscience conferencing: a UK multicentre prospective study investigating delegate outcomes and delivery mode.

Autor: Bligh ER; Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK. emily_bligh@hotmail.co.uk.; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, S10 2RX, UK. emily_bligh@hotmail.co.uk.; Insititute of Neurosciences, Glasgow, G51 4TF, UK. emily_bligh@hotmail.co.uk., Aldabbagh Y; UCL Medical School, University College London, London, WC1E 6DE, UK., Sheppard J; UCL Medical School, University College London, London, WC1E 6DE, UK., Krivankova B; Department of Surgery, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK.; School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G51 4TF, UK., Park JJ; Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK., Cheung J; Queen Mary University of London, Barts and The London School of Medicine London, London, UK., Erdi-Krausz G; Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJF, UK., Thomas J; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, S10 2RX, UK., Altaher H; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, S10 2RX, UK., Courtney E; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, S10 2RX, UK., Farrow T; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, S10 2RX, UK.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: BMC medical education [BMC Med Educ] 2023 Nov 17; Vol. 23 (1), pp. 883. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 17.
DOI: 10.1186/s12909-023-04779-z
Abstrakt: Background: Clinical neuroscience training programmes are becoming increasingly competitive to enter. UK university neuroscience societies act as a local environment for students to develop their career interests and provide portfolio building opportunities through hosting events such as annual conferences. Recently there has been a transition to more of these events being held online yet the impact of this, if any, remains unclear. This prospective study aimed to identify the impact of student-led neuroscience conferences on delegates and examine attitudes towards an online delivery approach.
Methods: Multi-centre prospective survey study using pre-conference, post-conference, and 6-month post-conference online questionnaires distributed at 6 virtual student-led neuroscience conferences in 2021. The questionnaires had five-domains: demographics, career aspirations, academic skillsets, an educational manipulation check (EMC) and mode of delivery preference.
Results: Nine hundred twenty-four surveys were completed across 559 conference attendances. 79.9% of delegates were medical students. Interest in a neuroscience career (p < 0.001), preparedness to undertake research (p < 0.001) and presentation (p < 0.001), as well as EMC scores (p < 0.001) increased immediately post conference. Most participants at 6 months post-attendance had completed an academic project (71.9%) or presentation (50.9%), although 88.8% were lost to follow up. Online format was preferred (65%) with reasons including elimination of travel and access to home facilities whilst lack of face-to-face interaction and engagement were recognised limitations.
Conclusion: UK student-led online neuroscience conferences play a role in developing knowledge and may facilitate career interest, academic skillset and longer term portfolio building. A hybrid virtual and in-person experience would offer an ideal solution to future conferencing, providing options promoting engagement and interactivity whilst advocating sustainability, accessibility and widening participation.
(© 2023. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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