Nephrology Health Professionals’ Perspectives on Their Preferred Modality for Scientific Meetings, Balancing Affordability, Sustainability and Opportunities to Interact With Peers: An International Society of Nephrology Survey

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 lockdowns and awareness of the ecological impact of our profession led us to reconsider the way we deliver scientific meetings. In this International Society of Nephrology (ISN) survey, we aimed to investigate health professionals’ preferences for in-person, virtual or hybrid nephrology meetings. Methods: An ad hoc questionnaire was developed within the ISN Western Europe Regional Board; a pilot survey checked for clarity and consistency (204 professionals). All members of the ISN Working Group were contacted between March and May 2023. Quantitative and qualitative data were recorded and analyzed. Results: A total of 499 participants from 102 countries completed the survey. Most of them agreed that a combination of in-person, remote, and hybrid meetings works best, whereas 14.1% preferred virtual meetings only, and 25.2% preferred in-person meetings only. Hybrid meetings were identified as the best option for the future, regardless of the number of attendees. Flexibility in schedules was their most important advantage, even if this modality limits networking. In-person meetings allow for discussions with international peers, although costs may be a barrier. The wiser use of resources and better management of large numbers of attendees were the main advantages of hybrid meetings (about 30% each); however, this modality potentially discriminates on the basis of financial resources and geographical area (31%). Conclusion: Hybrid meetings, allowing for more flexibility and better utilization of resources, were the preferred modality for scientific meetings, regardless of the number of participants. A targeted survey could further explore how to optimize meeting attendance and participation in scientific discussions.