Image-Guided Surgical e-Learning in the Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Era: What Is Next?

• Published in: Journal of laparoendoscopic & advanced surgical techniques. Part A Vol. 30; no. 9; p. 993
• Main Authors: García Vazquez, Alain, Verde, Juan M, Dal Mas, Francesca, Palermo, Mariano, Cobianchi, Lorenzo, Marescaux, Jacques, Gallix, Benoit, Dallemagne, Bernard, Perretta, Silvana, Gimenez, Mariano E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2020
• Subjects: Betacoronavirus; Computer-Assisted Instruction - trends; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; COVID-19; Education, Distance - trends; Education, Medical - trends; France; General Surgery - education; Humans; Internet; Learning; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; SARS-CoV-2; France; online training; surgical learning; training; e-learning; surgical education
• ISSN: 1557-9034
• DOI: 10.1089/lap.2020.0535

The current unprecedented coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) crisis has accelerated and enhanced e-learning solutions. During the so-called transition phase, efforts were made to reorganize surgical services, reschedule elective surgical procedures, surgical research, academic education, and careers to optimize results. The intention to switch to e-learning medical education is not a new concern. However, the current crisis triggered an alarm to accelerate the transition. Efforts to consider e-learning as a teaching and training method for medical education have proven to be efficient. For image-guided therapies, the challenge requires more effort since surgical skills training is combined with image interpretation training, thus the challenge is to cover quality educational content with a balanced combination of blended courses (online/onsite). Several e-resources are currently available in the surgical scenario; however, further efforts to enhance the current system are required by accelerating the creation of new learning solutions to optimize complex surgical education needs in the current disrupted environment.