The Influence of an Online Platform (Hernia U) in Surgical Education and Patient Management

Introduction: Hernia U was created with the objective to expand the educational landscape of abdominal wall surgery. It is an online platform where surgeons can register with no cost and subscribe for different courses. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of the platform on patient management and surgical education. Methods: A questionnaire regarding the influence of Hernia U in surgical education and patient management was emailed to professionals who had previously participated in any course of the Hernia U. Variables were shown with absolute and relative frequencies. Pearson’s χ2 and Fisher’s exact test were performed to analyze relationships between variables as appropriate. Results: Nine hundred three participants responded to the questionnaire. Seven hundred fifty-two (83.3%) were men; 248 (27.4%) participants were older than 50 years old; 240 (26.6%) were between 41 and 50 years old. Two hundred seventy-four (30.4%) participants had been in practice for more than 20 years, 242 (26.8%) between 11 and 20 years, and 161(17.8%) between 5 and 10 years. When analyzing the impact of time spent on the platform, spending over an hour per week was significantly associated with self-reported change in practice patterns compared to spending less than an hour per week (p < 0.0003). More experienced surgeons (10 or more years of practice) were less likely to change their practice patterns when compared to less experienced surgeons. Conclusion: Hernia U has allowed surgeons to change their daily practice and to boost their education. Surgeons spending more than one hour weekly in the platform are more likely to adopt changes.