Abstract P5-09-07: Using the power of the internet to deliver breast teaching in Africa

Introduction: Delivering high quality breast teaching to African countries is of utmost importance. Our previous audit of breast cancer reporting in Africa has identified areas that would benefit from teaching and education. However, time and resource issues limit the ability to deliver teachings to a large number of African pathologists in person. Method As part of a comprehensive national in house teaching for senior trainees in Nigeria, a distant module of teaching was delivered by a team of UK pathologists using a freely available internet application. Results Distant teaching formed part of a two week residential postgraduate histopathology course that was designed for trainees preparing for their exit Histopathology exam. Sixty African pathologists attended the teaching. Previous auditing of breast cancer reporting indicated the need for education on macroscopic specimen handling, typing and grading of breast cancer. Other topics included an update on inflammatory breast cancer which has a high incidence in Africa and columnar cell lesions that are increasingly being encountered by African pathologists in the context of breast screening. A set of anonymous virtual slides were scanned and distributed to delegates before the course date. Teaching was delivered using Skype application that only required a computer with internet access at the UK and Nigeria. We utilised video-conferencing which allowed trainees to see their lecturers and vice versa. The new data sharing facility of the application allows simultaneous sharing of Power Point presentations, with annotation which facilitates interactive discussion. A slide seminar using the previously circulated virtual slides, covering areas of diagnostic challenges morphologically and by immunohistochemistry was also delivered. An approach to diagnosing these lesions was delivered with re-focussing on tumor typing and grading. Participants were able to ask questions and interact with the UK-based tutors thorough the sessions. The feedback collected from attendees was excellent. Conclusion Distant teaching using freely available internet applications is a valuable, time and cost effective method that allows sharing educational material including lectures and slide seminars in an interactive manner. It is particularly useful in delivering teaching to resource-poor countries. Citation Format: Shaaban AM, Abdulkareem F, Rotimi O. Using the power of the internet to deliver breast teaching in Africa. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-09-07.