Learning Pulse

ESAIC Members Speak Out on 2024 Education Trend

It is amazing for us at ESAIC to have such great members, and we are always happy to hear from them. So, last Spring the ESAIC Education and Training Committee launched a grand survey. It is an expedition into the minds of anaesthesiologists, intensivists, trainees, and others to uncover their deepest educational desires and preferences.

First: The Who of ESAIC

Membership Status: 69% are card-carrying ESAIC members, and 31% are not members yet.

Gender: In a near-perfect gender balance, 52.4% are men, and 47.5% are women – just the right mix of genders.

Country of Practice: Respondents hail from 71 countries, with Europe leading the pack at 74%. Asia follows at 19%, while Africa and South America tie at a modest 3%. North America sneaks in with a single percentage point.

Professional Role: A whopping 90% are either anesthesiologists or have a double speciality in anesthesiology and intensive care. Trainees make up 7.3%, nurses 0.2%, and others 2.6%,

Years of Practice:  Over a third boast over 20 years in the field, while the rest are evenly split among those with less than 5 years, 5-10 years, and 10-20 years of practice.

Interests and Preferences – The What’s Hot and What’s Not

Education has received more attention in recent years as our speciality has become more complex: complex patients, complex and long operations, new opportunities outside the operating room, and intensive care.

The Hot List – Top Educational Gaps

The Cold List – Topics That Fell Flat

Sustainability, Career and Wellbeing: Although these topics are important in practice and we fight for better work conditions, education in this area may not be as important as acting.

The Lukewarm List – Meh Topics

Fluid and Blood Management, Drugs and Pharmacology: Interesting, but not thrilling enough for primetime.

Non-Scientific Skills –

Anesthesia non-technical skills, or ANTS for short, are the key to a better life at work. Here’s how they are rated:

Teamwork, Communication, and Assertiveness: A respectable 3.9 out of 5. Being a team player still matters.

Leadership and Management: 3.8 out of 5. Because someone must steer the ship.

Stress Management and Burnout: 3.6 out of 5. Perhaps mindfulness in the OR is not such a bad idea.

Gender Equity and Sustainability: 3.1 out of five. Important, but not at the top of the list.

Bye Book, hello Internet!

The results in this chapter are as one might expect. Device preference shows that 56.4% are keen on the desktop or laptop, while slightly less (41.3%) are swiping away on tablets and smartphones. Only a small percentage (2.3%) chose old-fashioned paper.

ESAIC Academy Usage reveals that 63.9% of our respondents are savvy users, taking full advantage of available resources. However, a surprising 36.1% do not use it, and 71.2% are unaware that the Academy even exists. It is clear that we need to shine a spotlight on this hidden gem.

Regarding frequency of use, 48.9% of users access the Academy 1-3 times a month, while a dedicated 18.9% use it weekly. This shows a solid engagement level but also highlights opportunities for increased utilisation.

Learning Preferences – The How and When

When it comes to learning, our respondents have a variety of preferences, each with its unique appeal. Webinars and online courses are the top choices for 70.7% of the participants, and they are appreciated for their convenience and the comfort of learning from home. In-person seminars and conferences follow closely, with 56.8% valuing face-to-face interactions and networking opportunities. Interactive case studies, simulations, and workshops are also popular, favoured by 49.3% for their hands-on approach.

The ideal duration for learning activities is between 30 minutes to 1 hour, just enough to keep engagement high without causing boredom. Evening weekdays, from 18.00 to 21.00, are the preferred time slots, perfectly aligning with the current ESAIC schedule and accommodating busy professional lives.

Among educational formats, webinars are the most loved, followed by e-modules and workshops. Each offers a unique blend of flexibility, depth, and interactivity. These preferences highlight the need for a balanced mix of digital and in-person learning opportunities tailored to fit into the busy schedules of healthcare professionals.

Participation and Evaluation – The Report Card

The numbers tell an interesting story about participation in 2023. A solid 82% of respondents participated in up to five activities last year. While this shows engagement, it is clear there’s room for more involvement.

However, significant barriers prevent even greater participation. Time constraint is the most common reason cited, which remains the eternal reason for many busy professionals. Financial aspects also play a crucial role—after all, money talks, and sometimes it says, “Not this time.” Lastly, personal circumstances such as family responsibilities and other commitments remind us that life happens, and sometimes even the best-laid plans fall by the wayside.

Understanding these barriers is key to designing more accessible and appealing educational opportunities in the future.

So, there you have it. The ESAIC community has spoken, and the message is clear. Our community craves engaging, relevant educational content that fits into our busy lives and does not break the bank. Webinars and online courses are the big winners, with the occasional face-to-face interaction at international congresses to meet the people behind the screens.

Sustainability and career well-being may not be the hottest topics, but they are on the radar. And while non-scientific skills are appreciated, they are not topping anyone’s must-have list. The takeaway? ESAIC’s future educational offerings must be as dynamic and diverse as its community. It is time to blend the old with the new, the digital with the physical, and the serious with a touch of fun. Because at the end of the day, learning should be as refreshing as a fresh cup of coffee – or, in this case, a well-administered dose of knowledge.

So, here’s to the future, education, and keeping the ESAIC community at the cutting edge of anesthesiology and intensive care.

Authors

• Dr Iulia Crisan
• Prof. Joana Berger-Estilita
• Prof. Stefan De Hert

Corresponding Author

• Prof. Joana Berger-Estilita, PhD, MMEd (Dundee), DESA, EDIC, FESAIC. Chair of the Education and Training Committee, ESAIC. FMH für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin, Consultant in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care. Salemspital, Hirslanden. Medical Group, Bern, Switzerland. Scientific Collaborator, Institute for Medical Education, University of Bern