[Training in the age of digitalization- evaluation of the digital Münster dermatopathology course].

Abstract

Background: Dermatopathology is an important component in diagnosing dermatological diseases. For more than 20 years, training courses have been offered in Münster to provide structured insight into dermatopathology. Since 2021 these courses have been offered in a digital format.

Objectives: Goals were (i) to present the new digital course format, (ii) to systematically analyze the evaluation of the online courses by the participants and (iii) to discuss the general advantages and disadvantages of an increasingly digital training in dermatopathology.

Materials and methods: From 2021-2024, annual online courses were evaluated by participants using a standardized questionnaire. Questions were asked about specialist title, level of training, country of origin, technical implementation of the digital format, and course content. Responses were statistically analyzed.

Results: The conversion of the courses to a digital format was rated very positively overall. Participants had no problems with the technical implementation. The participants would like to see more digital courses in dermatopathology in the future and even prefer digital courses to analogue ones.

Conclusion: The future also belongs to complementary digital teaching formats in dermatopathology. Our example shows that these are already technically feasible and have been consistently positively evaluated by participants. However, purely online events also have disadvantages, particularly due to the lack of personal interaction. A combination of various face-to-face and digital formats seems to be the best way forward.