Available videoconferencing freeware and medical education

Area of Science:

• Medical Education Technology
• Digital Health Solutions
• Pandemic Response in Healthcare

Background:

• Traditional medical education methods (classroom, bedside clinics) are challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Video-conferencing platforms offer a practical solution for remote medical training.
• Existing applications are not specifically designed for the unique demands of medical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review available free video-conferencing software and applications.
• To assess their suitability for postgraduate medical education delivery.
• To identify features supporting effective remote medical teaching.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of video-conferencing freeware was conducted on Android and iOS platforms.
• Software was selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.
• Evaluation focused on features critical for postgraduate medical education, including participant capacity, time limits, user comfort, and security.

Main Results:

• 118 video-conferencing software and apps were identified; 7 met the initial criteria, with one added post-hoc.
• Most applications supported adequate participant numbers and offered good user comfort.
• A significant limitation was the lack of robust security, with only two apps providing end-to-end encryption.

Conclusions:

• Freeware video-conferencing tools can partially substitute for traditional medical teaching methods.
• Enhancements in specific features are necessary to optimize these platforms for postgraduate medical education.
• The findings highlight the potential and limitations of current technology in adapting medical training to public health crises.