Central Asian Journal of Medical Hypotheses and Ethics
2021; Vol 2 (3)
© 2021 by the author. This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
eISSN: 2708-9800 https://doi.org/10.47316/cajmhe.2021.2.3.07
CARTOON EDITORIAL!
ONLINE MEETINGS DURING THE ERA OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Received: September 20, 2021 Accepted: September 22, 2021
Ilke Coskun Benlidayi1* http://orcid.org/0000-0001 -6517-5969
department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey
Corresponding author: Ilke Coskun Benlidayi, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana 01330, Turkey E-mail: icbenlidayi@hotmail.com
Keywords: COVID-19, Online education, Online learning, Pandemics, Videoconferencing
How to cite: Coskun Benlidayi I. Online meetings during the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cent Asian J Med
Hypotheses Ethics 2021:2(3):170-172. https://doi.orq/10.47316/cajmhe.2021.2.3.07
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had an impact on several aspects of science editing. For instance, due to additional daytime/nighttime duties, some editors, reviewers and authors involved in healthcare had to realign their duties on editing, writing and reviewing. Moreover, the increase in the number of research on COVID-19 and the large number of submissions on this topic have increased the demand for science editing. When this was transpiring, restrictions and lockdowns led to a shift from several face-to-face editorial activities to virtual alternatives [1].
For more than one year now, online meetings have become part of our lives. There are, of course, several disadvantages of virtual meetings. Nature pooled its readers regarding their experience with online scientific meetings [2]. Poor networking opportunities appeared as the biggest drawback of virtual conferences (69%), with time-zone differences being the second most reported drawback (12%). On the other hand, the readers also appreciated some of the advantages of virtual meetings. Accessibility (49%), lower carbon footprint (21%) and lower cost (19%) were appreciated the most about virtual meetings [2].
Disadvantages related to virtual conferencing can partly be overcome using appropriate strategies. In this respect, Baker and Murphy proposed a set of guiding principles and best practices with regard to conducting
virtual meetings and managing virtual teams [3]. Accordingly, 10 tips for better virtual meetings were offered: inviting only those who really need to attend the meeting, taking only the time required, assigning a person to take the minutes, delegating a gatekeeper to help maintain focus on the agenda topic, using visuals and webcams, sharing information before the meeting, stating the purpose of the meeting and setting the guidelines, appropriate management of the flow, using technology to increase engagement, and closing the meeting by stating the next steps and allowing the attendees to give comments [3].
Despite its challenges, the perceived positive benefits of videoconferencing make it likely to be continued after the COVID-19 pandemic [4]. Seventy-four percent of the readers who responded to Nature's pool think that conferences should continue to be virtual or have a virtual component after the COVID-19 pandemic [2]. A cross-sectional, internet-based survey evaluated physicians' attitude towards webinars and online education [5]. The researchers concluded that webinars should be regarded as complementing traditional inperson methods, instead of replacing them [5].
It appears that virtual meetings will continue to some extent in the future. In this regard, paying careful attention on how to conduct successful online meetings would increase efficiency.
FUNDING
None.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The author declares no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.
REFERENCES
1. Coskun Benlidayi I. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on science editing. Sci Ed 2021;8(1):126-127.
2. Remmel A. Scientists want virtual meetings to stay after the COVID pandemic. Nature 2021 ;591 (7849):185-186.
3. Baker EL, Murphy SA. Conducting successful virtual meetings while managing COVID fatigue. J Public Health Manag Pract 2021;27(2):208-212.
4. Karl KA, Peluchette JV, Aghakhani N. Virtual work meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic: The good, bad, and ugly. Small Group Res 2021:10464964211015286.
5. Ismail II, Abdelkarim A, Al-Hashel JY. Physicians' attitude towards webinars and online education amid COVID-19 pandemic: When less is more. PLoS One 2021;16(4):e0250241.
COVID-19 ПАНДЕМИЯСЫ КЕЗ1НДЕГ1 ОНЛАЙН 1С-ШАРАЛАР Кшт сездер: СОУГО-19, онлайн 61л1м, онлайн оцыту, пандемия, бейнеконференция байланысы Дэйексвз Yшiн: Бенлайда И.К. СОУГО-19 пандемиясы кезшдеп онлайн 1с-шаралар. Медициналык; гипотеза мен этиканын, Орта Азиялык; журналы. 2021:2(3):170-172. https://doi.Org/10.47316/caimhe.2021.2.3.07
ОНЛАЙН-МЕРОПРИЯТИЯ ВО ВРЕМЯ ПАНДЕМИИ COVID-19 Ключевые слова: СОУГО-19, онлайн-образование, онлайн-обучение, пандемии, видеоконференцсвязь
Для цитирования: Бенлайда И.К. Онлайн-мероприятия во время пандемии СОУГО-19. Центральноазиатский журнал медицинских гипотез и этики. 2021:2(3):170-172. https://doi.Org/10.47316/caimhe.2021.2.3.07