Is tele-education a proper substitute for regular method to train anesthesiology residents?

Background: Communication technology development has provided easier and quicker services in various medical fields. One of the main applications of tele-communication is tele-education, which helps in remote education of students. This study was designed to compare impact of tele-education and regular education methods on anesthesiology residents.Methods and Materials: Anesthesiology residents participated in both tele-education and regular courses during a one-year period. Various related subjects were taught in tele conference and regular sessions. In each course, residents were assessed by pretest and posttest exams. Finally, satisfaction was evaluated regarding quality of sessions using questionnaires especially prepared for the purpose.Results: Mann-Whitney U test showed no statistically significant difference in pretest (p=0.15) and posttest (p=0.07) results of both courses, although this difference was notably in favor of tele- posttest results. The highest rate of satisfaction among residents was dedicated to "saving time" to get to tele conference classes. Moreover, 92.59% of residents preferred to take part in tele conference classes.Conclusion: The study showed that tele-education and regular methods could be equally effective in the education of residents. Some advantages of tele-education for anesthesiology residents were high satisfaction of residents, time saving, and overcoming long distance. Tele-education could be regarded as an effective substitute for regular education of anesthesiology residents.s.