Author Manuscript Author Manuscript HHS Public Access Author manuscript Open J Obstet Gynecol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 May 25. Published in final edited form as: Open J Obstet Gynecol. 2015 November ; 5(13): 754–761. doi:10.4236/ojog.2015.513106. Teaching by Teleconference: A Model for Distance Medical Education across Two Continents Adeline Boatin1,*, Joseph Ngonzi2, Leslie Bradford3, Blair Wylie1, and Annekathryn Goodman1 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, USA Abstract Introduction—In Uganda, an estimated 120 obstetrician/gynecologists serve a population of 30 million people demonstrating the need to train additional skilled clinician leaders in reproductive health. In 2012, a partnership was formed with the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in southwest Uganda and the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, USA, in part to increase access to specialist training. This report presents an update in the development of a teaching conference between the institutions. Methods—In June 2012, a didactic teleconference between the institutions was instituted. Various conferencing tools were tried: direct telephone connection, Ventrilo™ conferencing system and Skype™ via personal computer or smart phone. In Mbarara, Internet was accessed via cellular data. In Boston, Internet was accessed via hospital network or cellular data. All lectures were HIPAA compliant. PowerPoint lectures were stored in a collective Dropbox™ that could be accessed and downloaded prior to lecture dates. Results—Over 30 months, 30 lectures were given. Lecturers included faculty and fellows from maternal fetal medicine, gynecology oncology, urogynecology, family planning, psychiatry and obstetric anesthesia. A patient case pertinent to the teaching topic framed the discussion. About 20 participants attended each lecture. Internet connectivity was the biggest challenge. Ultimately audio Skype via cellular data proved the most successful modality and became the method of choice. Conclusion—A successful collaboration in medical education via teleconference is sustainable, low cost, and beneficial to both resource-rich and resource-poor institutions. Expertise can be shared bilaterally and internationally by individuals potentially unable travel. Keywords Distance Learning; Videoconferencing; Global Health; Telehealth; Telemedicine This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/ *Corresponding author: ; Email: aboatin@mgh.harvard.edu Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Boatin et al. Page 2 Author Manuscript Author Manuscript 1. Introduction In the last two decades there has been a fundamental shift in global connectivity and awareness. Parallel to this shift, and likely fuelled by increased connectivity, there has also been a marked growth in global health programs and initiatives, in particular an expansion of academic partnerships between high and low-income countries. These have emerged to fulfill dual needs; the desire and interest for students and faculty from higher income countries to have exposure to some of the conditions and diseases more prevalent in low income countries and a mutual desire to use the resources and expertise available in academic institutions to reduce some of the stark disparities in health care outcomes seen globally. Addressing the disparity in the availability of medical specialists is often a major component of such partnerships. The World Health Organization estimates a shortfall of 4.3 million medical providers globally, with the deficit overwhelmingly concentrated in low income countries [1]. Stark disparities also exist in access to physicians with specialty and subspecialty training; only 12% of the world’s specialist surgical workforce, including surgeons, anesthesiologists and obstetrician gynecologists reside in sub-Saharan Africa, where over a third of the world’s population lives [2]. This shortfall in providers not only compromises current access to care in areas with deficits, but also impacts the ability to continue and expand future access by making it extremely challenging to train the next generation of providers. A sole obstetrician-gynecologist responsible for thousands of women and attending to one complication after another will be hard pressed to find the time and, perhaps mental energy required to provide quality training to their junior or assistants. Relying on the apprenticeship model historically employed by surgical specialties will thus be insufficient to expand the workforce to the numbers required for safe access. Technology is now an established component of health care provision and training. Distance learning or tele-learning has been used widely to expand access to medical education. Teleconferencing for education has been defined as using real-time and live programming with participants at two or more sites [3]. Most published experience with such distance education programs is limited to participants at remote sites within the same country [4]–[7]. Using distance learning to facilitate education between countries and across academic partnerships is a relatively new use, though results have been promising [8]. In this report we present our experience in building a low cost teleconference as a way to facilitate the ability of an academic partnership to expand access to sub-specialty obstetrics and gynecology training. 2. Methods 2.1. The Partnership In 2012 an academic partnership was formed between the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) at the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in Mbarara, Uganda, and the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, USA. Both institutions Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Open J Obstet Gynecol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 May 25. Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Boatin et al. Page 3 are referral centers and provide tertiary level obstetric and gynecologic care to a large surrounding population. The goals of this partnership were to foster bilateral education of residents in both departments, thus increasing capacity, and to increase the quality of care provision and promote research. With only 10 faculty and no fellowship-trained subspecialists, the MRRH Department of OB/GYN faces the challenge of increasing capacity and depth of knowledge amongst its faculty and residents without easy access to sub-specialty obstetric and gynecologic training and expertise. A needs assessment conducted early in our partnership identified this educational gap as a key area of need. Through several face-to-face meetings, observation of clinical rounds and didactics, the concept of a teleconference evolved as a low cost strategy to facilitate distance learning for MRRH residents and to promote interaction between trainees at both institutions. The specific objectives of the teleconference were to 1) increase the breadth and depth of the didactic portion of bilateral resident education through casebased discussion 2) spur interaction with clinicians from different training and work environments to prompt new insights into the management of disease and systems of care across both institutions and 3) demonstrate that teleconferencing is an effective teaching tool for members of both a local and remote audience. 2.2. Building the Teleconference Program Though the initial conception of the program occurred with face-to-face meetings of involved partners, implementation and execution largely occurred electronically. Email communication was used to plan the curriculum and select monthly teaching topics. To encourage bilateral involvement each lecture had speakers from both institutions. Typically a case presentation relevant to the selected topic was prepared and presented by a resident from MRRH. The didactic portion to the lecture was prepared and presented by fellows in training or faculty from MGH. The lectures lasted 60 minutes. The content of the lectures is listed in Table 1. Each lecture started with a case report, was followed by a didactic lecture, and finished with a 15-minute discussion period. All ten Ugandan faculty participated in the teleconferences. The ages of the participants ranged from 21 to 60 years of age. The genders of the participants were evenly divided between men and women. The educational level of the participants ranged from being in medical school, in the obstetrics and gynecology residency program, or on medical faculty of the respective Boston and Ugandan departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology. PowerPoint lectures were HIPAA compliant and prepared ahead of time so they could be shared via email or cloud storage (Dropbox™) for personal access and download. These lectures were sent ahead of scheduled teleconferences. The effectiveness of the conference was evaluated through email feedback. Teleconferences were planned to recur every third Tuesday of the month at 7 am Eastern Standard Time (EST) and 2 or 3 pm Eastern African Time (EAT) depending on daylight savings in the US. Communication via web conferencing was the primary mode of teleconferencing. Each planned conference would begin with an international phone call between organizers on each end to establish contact prior to web conferencing. Web conferencing tools used included Ventrilo™ and Skype™, through a number of interfaces: personal and hospital computer and smart phones. An international call using Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Open J Obstet Gynecol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 May 25. Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Boatin et al. Page 4 mobile phone was available as a back up if Internet connectivity failed. In Boston, free WiFi connections were available through network systems. At times personal cellular data networks were used though such use incurred no additional cost to the end user. In Mbarara, no Wi-Fi networks were available. Internet access was obtained by purchasing cellular data through established commercial networks. On average 1 GB of data costs USD12. Approximately 100 MB and 300 – 500 MB of data is typically required for an hour of continuous audio and video web-conferencing respectively. In Boston, lectures were displayed to residents on projector equipment on site at MGH. In Mbarara, similar projection of lectures was performed and audio or video from the web conference provided through personal laptop computer (PC). In the event of electricity outages in Mbarara, slides were viewed via personal computer. 3. Funding Funding for the project came from an endowed women’s healthcare global health fund held in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at MGH. 4. Results From June 2012 through January 2015, thirty teleconferenced lectures were planned and given (Table 1 and Table 2). The conferences were progressively streamlined using the email feedback. Topics covered the breadth of obstetrics and gynecology with some emphasis given to subspecialty areas of gynecology oncology and maternal fetal medicine given the demonstrated need. There were an average of twelve attendees at MGH (students, residents, fellows, and faculty) and 20 at Mbarara (Figure 1 and Figure 2). The meetings were unrestricted and open to all members of the Boston and Mbarara departments. Though primarily targeted to residents, at times other members of the care team including midwives, nurses and nursing students attended particularly for lectures aimed at strengthening teams and providing overarching care principles. Internet connectivity was the biggest challenge to successfully sharing lectures bilaterally. Table 2 summarizes the connectivity challenges and outcomes for the first 18 months of conferencing. Problems in connectivity were mostly commonly manifested as delayed transmission of audio or video, freezing of transmission and dropping of connections requiring redialing and reconnection. Five of the nineteen lectures were given without interruption. Skype™ became the modality of choice for web conference. Ventrilo™ was dropped after several lectures because of the difficulty in real time conversations. Disruptions in Internet connectivity occurred from access at both institutions. Early in the development of the program we transitioned from hospital Wi-Fi networks at MGH, which proved unreliable, to more robust personal cellular data networks accessed via Smartphone. In Mbarara, cellular data networks worked well for the most part, but also contributed to interruptions as described above. Initial attempts at including video conferencing led to many interruptions in connectivity, thus this was also eliminated early in the development of the program and audio alone relied upon for conferencing. Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Open J Obstet Gynecol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 May 25. Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Boatin et al. Page 5 5. Discussion Meeting the health demands of a population requires access to skilled, well-trained health providers. Current shortages in such skilled providers calls for multiple and innovative strategies to increase the work force and in particular to increase the numbers of providers with specialized training. We present a simple and low cost model for education that harnesses academic partnerships and easily available resources to promote bilateral resident education and increase access to sub-specialty expertise in settings typically excluded. Our experience adds to modest literature examining distance education across countries and provides encouraging preliminary findings for the development and expansion of such programs. Commitment from both partner institutions was critical for this program to develop and become sustainable. An identifiable advocate from each institution with the responsibility of facilitating communication was extremely important in the planning of lectures and execution of teleconferences. We also found that during the lecture having faculty familiar with the environment and culture of both settings played an important role in facilitating discussion. This was particular relevant when presenting fellows or faculty from MGH had no familiarity with the clinical environment at MRRH. It was also helpful for cultural reasons, for example to facilitate the translation of used idioms, language patterns and even accents specific to each geographical setting. Internet connectivity remained the biggest challenge to successful conferencing though relatively few-six of thirty lectures, had to be cancelled due to failed connections or technical issues. Relying on cellular data at both institutions and eliminating video dramatically improved the quality of connection. In such partnerships it is often assumed that infrastructure at the low-income institution will be the limiting factor; therefore it was an important lesson to consider connectivity issues at MGH and actively address those. Advance planning and sharing of lecture materials provided both sides with the tools to proceed as a back up in instances of failed Internet connectivity. This was important to ensure that information exchange still occurred and facilitated separate learning in those few instances when web conferencing was unsuccessful. The ability to have real-time interaction and discussion is a major attraction for distance learning programs based on teleconferencing over e-learning and web-based learning that is self directed or asynchronous. Videoconferencing greatly facilitates this, and yet early in our program we had to eliminate this due to constraints in bandwidth speed. We found that audio conferencing did continue to provide some level of interaction, however, face-to-face interaction would likely have stimulated more interaction between groups of residents and faculty who have never met in person. Requiring case presentations from residents at the distance site-MRRH became an important method to deliberately encourage active participation from both sites. Locally chosen case presentations prompted more interaction from those residents and required faculty and fellow from MGH to consider differences in clinical environment that may be present. This not only facilitated bilateral engagement but also provided the platform for bilateral learning opportunities and discussion. Introducing Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Open J Obstet Gynecol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 May 25. Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Boatin et al. Page 6 other deliberate strategies such as technology based user participation may further increase interaction and learning opportunities. Video-conferencing has been performed successfully in other examples of distance learning though with higher costs. As a voluntary program with limited funding we sought to introduce this program with little to no costs. We achieved this on a budget of under $500. Current available methods for data transmission during teleconferencing are satellite communication, Internet Protocol (IP), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and cellular networks [3]. Satellite communication costs tend to be prohibitive, with start-up costs averaging USD 30,000 and rental costs of USD 500 – 1000/month. ISDN requires access to public switched telephone networks over wired telephone systems. These are currently unavailable in many areas of low-income countries and with current widespread use of mobile phones unlikely to be applied. IP and cellular networks are therefore most relevant for use in this type of program. We relied on Skype™ as free software available to facilitate conferencing via IP and cellular networks. This was used with similar success in a distance education program facilitating access to anesthesia subspecialty education [8]. Ventrillo was abandoned because it required PCs on both sides and required holding down the keyboard key to talk. This led to confusion when there was a question from the other side. Other distance learning programs have had success using alternative software, of which Polycom®, has been most commonly described [4] [5] [9] [10]. Costs for using this software average 2 million USD for a large corporation (http://www.bradreese.com/blog/polycom-6-8-2010.htm). A future and important step in our program will be to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of the teleconference to residents at both institutions. Evidence from other programs is encouraging with high acceptability and comparable efficacy for students both on site and off site [5] [9]–[13]. This evidence is limited to programs that offer distance learning within the same country and often with participants from the same institutions at different sites. Evaluations of programs such as ours, where there are substantial differences in culture, clinical environments and across much larger distances will be important to determine if findings will be similar. 6. Conclusion In summary, despite some challenges in connectivity we were able to develop and sustain a distance education program across two continents and two institutions for over two years at little cost. This program facilitated access to subspecialty education for residents in-training in a country where such access has been unavailable. It also provided the opportunity to spur interaction and clinical discussion among faculty, fellows, and residents from dramatically different clinical environments creating bilateral learning opportunities. References 1. Guilbert JJ. The World Health Report 2006: Working Together for Health. Education for Health (Abingdon). 2006; 19:385–387. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13576280600937911. Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Open J Obstet Gynecol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 May 25. Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Boatin et al. Page 7 2. Holmer H, et al. Global Distribution of Surgeons, Anaesthesiologists, and Obstetricians. Lancet Global Health. 2015; 3:S9–S11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s2214-109x(14)70349-3. [PubMed: 25926323] 3. Augestad KM, Lindsetmo RO. Overcoming Distance: Video-Conferencing as a Clinical and Educational Tool among Surgeons. World Journal of Surgery. 2009; 33:1356–1365. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00268-009-0036-0. [PubMed: 19384459] 4. Antoun J, et al. Balint Seminars: The Transatlantic Experience through Videoconference. Family Practice. 2014; 31:733–738. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmu065. [PubMed: 25320058] 5. Cook A, et al. Prospective Evaluation of Remote, Interactive Videoconferencing to Enhance Urology Resident Education: The Genitourinary Teleteaching Initiative. Journal of Urology. 2005; 174:1958–1960. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.ju.0000177483.65528.40. [PubMed: 16217366] 6. Spitzer RF, et al. Videoconferencing for Resident Teaching of Subspecialty Topics: The Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Experience at the Hospital for Sick Children. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. 2008; 21:343–346. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpag.2007.09.007. [PubMed: 19064228] 7. Hadley GP, Mars M. Postgraduate Medical Education in Paediatric Surgery: Videoconferencing—A Possible Solution for Africa? Pediatric Surgery International. 2008; 24:223–226. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1007/s00383-007-2085-5. [PubMed: 18064470] 8. Kiwanuka JK, et al. Synchronous Distance Anesthesia Education by Internet Videoconference between Uganda and the United States. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia. 2015; 27:499–503. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinane.2015.04.004. [PubMed: 26001319] 9. Stain SC, et al. Objective Assessment of Videoconferenced Lectures in a Surgical Clerkship. American Journal of Surgery. 2005; 189:81–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2004.04.012. [PubMed: 15701498] 10. Agrawal S, et al. Training the Trainees in Radiation Oncology with Telemedicine as a Tool in a Developing Country: A Two-Year Audit. International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications. 2011; 2011 Article ID: 230670. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/230670. 11. Hortos K, et al. Synchronous Videoconferencing: Impact on Achievement of Medical Students. Teaching and Learning in Medicine. 2013; 25:211–215. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1080/10401334.2013.797344. [PubMed: 23848327] 12. Tomlinson J, et al. How Does Tele-Learning Compare with Other Forms of Education Delivery? A Systematic Review of Tele-Learning Educational Outcomes for Health Professionals. NSW Public Health Bulletin. 2013; 24:70–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/NB12076. [PubMed: 24195848] 13. Kroeker KI, et al. Residency Training via Videoconference—Satisfaction Survey. Telemedicine Journal and E-Health. 2000; 6:425–428. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/15305620050503906. [PubMed: 11242551] Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Open J Obstet Gynecol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 May 25. Boatin et al. Page 8 Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Figure 1. Teleconference setting in Boston Open J Obstet Gynecol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 May 25. Author Manuscript Boatin et al. Page 9 Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Figure 2. Teleconference in Mbarara, Uganda. Open J Obstet Gynecol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 May 25. Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Boatin et al. Lecture topics. Table 1 Gynecology Oncology Loop Electricalsurgical Excisiion Procedure (LEEP) versus cryotherapy Cervical dysplasia Cervical cancer staging Basic principles of radiation oncology Basics of Colposcopy Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)-related diseases HPV and HPV vaccination Palliative care in low resource countries Management of a complex adnexal mass Maternal Fetal Medicine Electronic fetal monitoring Meconium Malaria in pregnancy Fetal Monitoring Management of Psychiatric Disease in Pregnancy General Obstetrics and Gynecology Surgical Anatomy Management of ectopic pregnancy Management of postpartum hemorrhage Vulvar diseases Laparoscopic surgery Management of incomplete abortion Urogyencology Management of vesicovaginal fistula Other Basic Obstetric Anesthesiology Building Stronger Teams in OB/GYN Simulation for Medical Education and Critical Care Page 10 Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Open J Obstet Gynecol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 May 25. Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Boston to Mbarara teleconferences: technology and challenges. Table 2 Boatin et al. Open J Obstet Gynecol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 May 25. Date Connection Device interface Problem Outcome 06/2012 07/2012 08/2012 09/2012 10/2012 11/2012 12/2012 01/2013 02/2013 03/2013 04/2013 05/2013 06/2013 07/2013 08/2013 09/2013 10/2013 11/2013 12/2013 1/2014 2/2014 4/2014 5/2014 6/2014 7/2014 9/2014 10/2014 Skype Skype Skype Ventrillo Ventrillo Ventrillo Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype Skype MGH MRRH Hospital PC Personal PC None No interruptions-full lecture Hospital PC Personal PC Uganda Internet Interruptions-partial lecture Personal PC Personal PC Uganda Internet Interruptions-full lecture Hospital PC Personal PC None No interruptions-Full lecture Hospital PC Personal PC None No interruptions-Full lecture Hospital PC Personal PC Unable to connect Separate lectures given Smartphone Personal PC None Interruptions-full lecture Smartphone Personal PC Internet connectivity Interruptions-full lecture Smartphone Personal PC Internet connectivity Interruptions-full lecture Smartphone Personal PC Internet connectivity Interruptions-full lecture Personal PC Personal PC Internet connectivity Interruptions-full lecture Personal PC Personal PC None Interruptions-full lecture Smartphone Personal PC Internet connectivity Interruptions-full lecture Smartphone Personal PC Internet connectivity Interruptions-full lecture Smartphone Personal PC Internet connectivity Separate lectures Smartphone Personal PC Internet connectivity Interruptions-full lecture Smartphone Personal PC Internet connectivity Separate lectures Smartphone Personal PC Internet connectivity Interruptions-full lecture Smartphone Personal PC Internet connectivity Interruptions-full lecture Smartphone Personal PC none Interruptions-full lecture Smartphone Personal PC Internet connectivity Separate lectures Smartphone Personal PC Unable to connect Separate lectures Smartphone Personal PC None No interruptions-full lecture Smartphone Personal PC Internet connectivity Interruptions-full lecture Smartphone Personal PC None No interruptions-full lecture Smartphone Personal PC None No interruptions-full lecture Smartphone Personal PC None No interruptions-full lecture Page 11 Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Author Manuscript Date Connection Device interface Problem Outcome Boatin et al. 11/2014 12/2014 1/2015 Skype Skype Skype MGH MRRH Smartphone Personal PC None No interruptions-full lecture Smartphone Personal PC Internet connectivity Interruptions-full lecture Smartphone Personal PC None No interruptions-full lecture Open J Obstet Gynecol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 May 25. Page 12