BASHH Education Survey Results
28 May 2019
Please find the results of the BASHH Education Survey below:
Please find the results of the BASHH Education Survey below:
Responders:
The online survey was completed by 102 responders which represents almost 10% of the BASHH membership. 99% reported being a BASHH member. Amongst respondents, 42% were of consultant grade and 27% were SAS doctors, with the remaining third consisting of doctors in training, nurses, and health advisors. 8% reported “other” categories of primary employment including primary care, professions allied to medicine and other medical specialties.
In the past 2 years, the number of scientific meetings attended by the respondents overall ranged from 0-6, with 38% reporting having not attended a scientific meeting in the time period. 43% reported having been to one BASHH conference in the past 2 years, with 27% reporting having attended 2 conferences.
Accessibility of scientific meetings 95% of respondents told us that they knew BASHH organised scientific meetings. 53% found the current timings of Friday afternoons convenient; however the main barriers to attendance were issues of travel to London and the need to arrange cover for clinical duties. This was more notably a problem for those living outside of London, with a longer commute however childcare commitments were also frequently cited.
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Your suggestions on how we might increase accessibility
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Our response
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Hold meetings on different days
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5% of respondents asked for meetings on different days. BASHH will look at this closely – our current venue for scientific meetings (RSM) requires lengthy advance booking to guarantee availability. Dates are now provisionally booked until 2020. We are currently reviewing alternative premises for future meetings, and as part of our review we will consider a more flexible diary.
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Different regional location
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14% requested locations outside of London / regional meetings
Until 2014, BASHH held a scientific meeting outside of London every 2 years, with the most recent meeting being organised in Manchester. Unfortunately, attendance at these meetings was consistently poor, with limited representation from those working outside of London, despite offering a more “local” destination. BASHH very much sympathises with the difficulties travel to London can pose, however we believe we reach a larger audience with a London base.
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Webinar
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2% of respondents asked for webinar technology.
BASHH scientific meetings have followed a tradition of discourse and academic discussion enhanced by networking with colleagues. However, we recognize the practical barriers faced by many members to attending in person, and we have developed our scientific meeting podcasts.
Presentations delivered as part of a BASHH scientific meeting are routinely recorded and uploaded to the BASHH website as a podcast. These can be used for individual learning or for departmental teaching with colleagues, including trainees of any discipline who may not be BASHH members. We hope this resource goes some way to address the disparity of access to those living outside of London.
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Avoid evenings
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3% of respondents commented that they wanted to avoid evening meetings.
BASHH wants to highlight that the programme now runs from 1.30pm-5.30pm.
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Programme released too late
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2% of respondents commented that the programme was released too late to facilitate study leave.
BASHH takes this issue very seriously. We have been at fault for releasing the detailed programme relatively close to the meeting date, and we have put in place new working practices o ensure the programme is available to you at least 6 weeks in advance of the event, with a skeleton outline available from January of each meeting year.
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Educational Content
- 72% respondents reported being satisfied by the variety of scientific meeting content.
- 70% were satisfied that the complexity of the educational material presented was appropriate for the audience
- 28 topics were suggested for future meetings, with a focus on clinical management and best practice in diagnosis and treatment of common STIs
Podcasts
- 75% of respondents were not aware of the existence of the scientific meeting podcasts
- 10% of respondents reported having used the podcasts to listen to a presentation again to enhance specific learning
Annual Conference
- June and July were reported to be the most convenient months to attend an conference
- There was a preference to avoid school holidays and weekends
- 81% reported that the location of the conference influenced whether or not they would be likely to attend
- 92% reported being happy with the location rotating to different venues
- Whilst 66% felt the conference was expensive, the variety of educational material was approved and its level felt to be appropriate.
- 66% felt that a joint conference with BHIVA every 4 years was acceptable
eHIV-STI
- 78% of respondents reported an awareness of eHIV-STI
- 60% have used the programme for CPD purposes; 26% for exam revision
- 28% were aware of the eHIV-STI undergraduate pathway, with 13% having used this resource for undergraduate teaching
Other comments
- Members valued face-to-face teaching with opportunities to network and learn from other colleagues.