Synchronous distance anesthesia education by Internet videoconference between Uganda and the United States

Study objectiveWe evaluated the effectiveness of anesthesia education delivered via Internet videoconferencing between the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda.DesignThis is a prospective educational study.SettingThe setting is the education in 2 hospitals in Uganda and the United States.SubjectsThe subjects are anesthesia residents.InterventionsThe interventions are anesthesia education lectures delivered in person and via Internet videoconferencing.MeasurementsThe average pre-lecture and post-lecture scores of the local, remote, and combined audiences were compared.Main resultsPost-lecture test scores improved over pre-lecture scores: local audience, 59% ± 22% to 81% ± 16%, P = .0002, g = 1.144; remote audience, 51% ± 19% to 81% ± 8%, P < .0001, g = 2.058; and combined scores, 56% ± 14% to 82% ± 8%, P < .0001, g = 2.069).ConclusionsTransfer of anesthetic knowledge occurs via small group lectures delivered both in person and remotely via synchronous Internet videoconferencing. This technique may be useful to expand educational capacity and international cooperation between academic institutions, a particular priority in the growing field of global health.