Examining Virtual Wound Conferences

Objective:  The Covid-19 pandemic has created changes in the way we practice medicine. The move to virtual conferencing in to avoid mass gatherings is a significant change to how healthcare professionals meet, discuss current trends, and share research.   Methods:  Data from an exit poll given after a wound care symposium was reviewed. The annual one-day symposium was held virtually in November 2020 after being held in-person for 6 years. Physicians, nurses, podiatrists, and other healthcare professionals with an interest in chronic wound care attended. Respondents were asked to comment and reflect on their experiences of attending a virtual conference.   Results:  Over 60 percent of respondents stated that the virtual conference was better than or on par with a live event. These respondents had attended the live event in previous years. 83% of respondents stated that they plan to access conference materials for the 30 days it remained posted after the event. Over 50% of respondents stated they favored the ability to communicate effectively with colleagues via instant messaging feature offered by the conference. Finally, 80% of respondents stated that they would like to attend this and other conferences virtually in the future.     Conclusions:  The shift from in-person to virtual conferences has the potential to remain a significant method of attending healthcare conferences. Focus on the best methods to teach and present as well as encourage participation from attendees is critical for the conference’s impact.  The greatest impact may be access to conference materials after the event ends.