Webinar : An Initial Experience with Web-based Real Time Interactive Clinical Seminars for Japanese Medical Students

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the feasibility of webinars, web-based real time interactive seminars, for geographically distant medical students and their tutors. METHODS: Six participants from 5 medical schools in Japan were self-selected 3rd to 6th year medical students. A North American medical educator served as their webinar tutor. The students and tutor used home computers to participate in the webinar. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A total of twelve webinars were held, 4 with a tutor and 8 without the tutor. Unstructured tutoring formats included symptom-related differential diagnoses, role-play and patient case discussions. We suggest webinar is a feasible technology to supplement the clinical training of medical students at medical universities.