key: cord-0772129-efggcxen
authors: Györgyi, Zoltán; Sperotto, Francesca; Medina, Alberto; Kneyber, Martin CJ; Zanin, Anna
title: Strategies to maintain high-quality education and communication among the pediatric and neonatal intensive care community during the COVID-19 pandemic
date: 2021-02-10
journal: Med Intensiva
DOI: 10.1016/j.medin.2021.01.008
sha: 6d51b380b2ca6ca221ccb08f89765dfffcc7d27b
doc_id: 772129
cord_uid: efggcxen

nan

). Each webinar included 60 minutes of free-to-access expert teaching followed by a 20-minute discussion on the topic and the possibility of true networking with the speakers during and after the sessions. Almost 3000 people attended the ESPNIC webinars from 97 different countries (distribution displayed in ESM - Figure 1 ). Interestingly, 15% were multidisciplinary healthcare providers not regularly working in the intensive care field. Besides the webinars, ESPNIC provided online tutorials focused on non-invasive and invasive ventilatory support, which was felt as most relevant topics for the audience in the given circumstances.

The "virtual wave" during the pandemic is confirmed by increased social media engagement in our field (3) . In order to increase its educational impact, ESPNIC nominated a "Social Media board", consisting of intensive care physicians, trainees, and communication experts. Scientific papers, literature contents, as well as qualified educational materials for young trainees, have been regularly shared, reaching over 3500 followers in the first few months. A recent analysis of the use of social media for sharing high-quality content during the pandemic identified ESPNIC as a point of reference in the networking pattern of the pediatric intensive care community (3).

In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic represented a true accelerator of the teaching evolution into remote learning. These virtual formats have been proposed and applied by academic education. However, the complete shift of standard educational activities into their online version can lead to online networking tiredness, anxiety or worry secondary to the over-use of these virtual tools, known as "Zoomfatigue" (4). This phenomenon should not be underestimated, and a real balance should be reached between communication and information overload. The evolution of information spreading through social media is also worth noting. Despite the hardship, ESPNIC remains committed to maintaining the same high-level support for its members and for the #PedsICU and #NICU community. ESPNIC's experience could represent a useful example for other scientific societies and organizations which are implementing new, creative education and communication strategies.

The Impact of COVID-19 on

Medical and Surgical Education Challenges and Innovations in the COVID-19 Era: A Systematic Review

Using Social Media for Rapid Information Dissemination in a Pandemic: #PedsICU and Coronavirus Disease

Connecting Through Technology During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: Avoiding "Zoom Fatigue

The authors thank Pamela Funes, Liliya Buyukliyska and Gianinna Di Conza Villa for their technical support.

Letter: 489