A Bloody Tale of Two Cities: A Study of an Online Hematopathology Course among Students in Toronto and Nairobi

Abstract

Introduction: To provide comprehensive hematopathology teaching, a web-based virtual microscopy unknown case conference series was created, shared and evaluated for pathology trainees at two geographically distant institutions. This study aimed to determine if web-based simulation of pathology unknown case conferences enhanced the learning of hematopathology trainees based on their own perceptions.

Methods: An 8-week web-based unknown case conference series was created and linked to virtual microscopy images. A survey was distributed to participants and focus group interviews were conducted at each institution and qualitative analysis of the responses was undertaken.

Results: Residents from hematological, anatomic and clinical pathology residency training programs at a Canadian university and a Kenyan university teaching hospital participated in the study. All active participants experienced an enhancement of their learning. They found virtual microscopy to be a convenient method to learn hematopathology. The design of the unknown case conference series was felt to help them keep focused on the content.

Discussion: The online unknown case study approach using virtual microscopy enhanced learning for the residents and in the case of the Kenyan group, provided a learning opportunity not previously present. Residents found the virtual microscopy approach to be convenient and acceptable. Residents were reluctant to participate in the online conference unless they could be sure that their responses were correct, which limited beneficial discourse.

Keywords: Hematopathology, unknown case study, virtual microscopy, knowledge building, online conference