A Train-the-Trainers (TtT) Program for Engineers for Hosting Multiparty International Clinical Teleconferences

Background: International clinical teleconferencing connecting hospitals contributes to the standardisation of medical care. Introduction: The perception that participating in international teleconferences is easy while hosting and coordinating them is difficult has limited the expansion of these kinds of programmes. We evaluated the effectiveness of a Train-the-Trainer (TtT) programme on hosting international multiparty teleconferences targeted at hospital engineers. Methods: From 2015 to 2017, 20 engineers and physicians from 17 institutions in 10 countries participated in Kyushu University Hospital’s TtT programme. Hands-on training and hosting a Training Report Conference (TRC) were conducted. The impact of the programme was assessed using questionnaires about the participants’ confidence, perception of barriers, and teleconference activity before and one year after the training period. Results: The mean training period was 16.7 days (median, 19 days). Twelve TRCs were hosted by trainees connecting 56 institutions in 11 countries. All participants gave positive evaluations of the overall programme, 19 (95%) "very good" and 1 (5%) "good", and the trainers 9 (90%) "very good" and 1 (10%) "good"). Following the TtT programme, the mean number of trainee-hosted events increased significantly (0.8 to 1.3, p<0.001), and more respondents (12/17, 71%) reported barriers to hosting a programme than participating in one (5/17, 29%, p<0.001). Trainee confidence in both hosting and participating in international teleconferences was significantly higher after TtT. Conclusion: There are more barriers to hosting than participating in international clinical teleconferences. This TtT programmes for engineers could contribute to more active hosting engagement.