MP30-02: The IVU Virtual Visiting Professorship Program: YouTube and Its Impact on Global Health Education

Dzhuliyan (Jay) Vasilev*, Scottsdale, AZ, Danielle D Sweeney, Ashley M Westrum, Austin, TX, Christina B. Ching, Columbus, OH, Francis X Schneck, Pittsburg, PA, Ian S. Metzler, Portland, OR

Introduction: Like many global health organizations, International Volunteers in Urology (IVU) had to adjust to limitations on international travel during the COVID-19 pandemic that eliminated in-person surgical workshops. IVU turned to a completely virtual presence through the expansion of a visiting professorship program (VVP) of lectures given to international partner sites on requested topics via live video conference. These lectures were recorded and subsequently posted on YouTube, and promoted through social media, to increase accessibility. We reviewed the use of YouTube as an educational platform.

Methods: YouTube analytics of the IVU VVP program viewed after the live presentation from February 2020 through October 2021 were reviewed. We categorized the lectures by urology topic and evaluated them by the watch time in hours, the total number of views, and the number of channel subscribers. We then calculated an interest score, represented by the ratio of the number of views to the total number of videos under a specific topic, and a value score, represented by a ratio of total watch hours to the total number of videos.

Results: 68 lectures have been given over 20 months with 10,941 total views, 873.4 total hours of watch time, and 259 channel subscribers. The top three video categories by watch time and number of views included endourology (215.2 hours, 2,006 views), oncology (169.1 hours, 1,868 views), and pediatrics (164.9 hours, 3,453 views). “Ultrasound basics for urologists” was watched the most with 104.4 hours (1,000 views), while “Complex hypospadias” had the highest number of views at 1,200 (25.4 hours). The top three video categories by interest scores were endourology (287), pediatrics (247), and voiding dysfunction (189), while the top three by value scores were endourology (31), voiding dysfunction (18), and sexual health (15). For all videos, direct YouTube searches were the most common means of viewership (representing 41.7% of views), while external traffic sources represented 13.9% of views. Of the external traffic sources, the most common was from Google (14.2%).

Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic led IVU to create a well-received VVP program, archived through YouTube to enable sustained remote education and outreach to international sites. Review of YouTube trends provided feedback on didactic topics. The difference in views and watch time highlight topics of higher educational value to international sites and may suggest areas of focus in future virtual and in-person didactics when they resume.

Source of Funding: None