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Category: Volume 08 Issue 11 November 2020
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Title: Telepathology in Medical Education: Integration of Digital Microscopy in Distance Pathology Education during COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors: Sibel Sensu, Ozgur Teke, Muammer Demirci, Sevcan Kutlu, B.Nazlı Genc, Samet Ayalti, Yesim Saliha Gurbuz, Nusret Erdogan

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v8i11.93

Abstract

Background: Telepathology, is sharing pathology data between distant computers using telecommunication technology. In this article, we aimed to present and discuss our experienceon distance education and telepathology in medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: During this experience, the Virasoft EduPath application was integrated with the University’s online learning management system for the execution of pathology microscopy courses. Three online pathology microscopy lectures were realized. After completion of the courses, students’ feedbacks were obtained with an online questionnaire.
Results: Seventy-two of 106 medical students participated in the survey. Respectively, 64% and 14% of third grade students and 56% and 25% of second rade students scored the practice as very good and good. Approximately 80% of the students “very much and much” took advantage of this system; 83.3% of second grade and 86.4% of third grade wished the system to continue. According to students, the advantages of the system were; “to analyze the cases whenever they want; to see the annotations of the educator; to annotate and ask questions; to repeat the analysis as much as they want and in detail”. According to students, the aspects needed to be developed were; “image quality and technical pitfalls”. The Cronbach Alpha reliability statistics score of the questionnaire used for the feedback survey was 0.966.
Conclusion: The integration of online learning to both theoretical and practical areas of medical education as a part of interdisciplinary project, with teamwork of health, computer and education experts is crucial as strikingly seen in the COVID-19 crisis.
Keywords: Distance education, online learning, telepathology, digital microscopy.

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Corresponding Author

Sibel Sensu, MD

Istinye Universitesi Topkapı Kampusu, Teyyareci Sami sok, No: 3, 34010 Zeytinburnu/İstanbul/Turkey