Winter 2024 (Volume 34, Number 4)

Joint Count Survey Results:
How Do We Like To Learn?

By Beth Hazel, OLY, MDCM, FRCPC, MM

Download PDF

The mandate of the Education Committee at the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) is to respond to the continuing professional development needs of our members. The COVID pandemic helped to expose all of us to virtual learning opportunities, and we were curious about how this has changed our members’ preferences about learning.

Our Joint Count survey was answered by 71 CRA members. University-based rheumatologists were over-represented at 52%, but all career stages were well represented. We asked respondents to rank their three preferred methods of learning. In-person conferences were preferred by almost 75%. Case-based discussions, rounds, and reading journals and textbooks were the next most popular at 39%, 35% and 35%, respectively.

Interestingly, more than half of respondents did not feel that their preferences had changed since the COVID pandemic, but members commented that they were more open to online options and that they saw advantages to virtual learning including saving time and money. A few comments reflected a feeling that it seems more difficult to prioritize learning activities due to a busier and more stressful work/life balance.

Indeed, members do value the networking and social interactions that in-person learning activities offer. See you all in Calgary, at the CRA ASM!

Elizabeth M. Hazel, OLY, MDCM, FRCPC, MM
Chair, CRA Education Committee
Division Director, Rheumatology,
McGill University Health Centre
Assistant Dean, PGME, CBME
Associate Professor of Medicine,
Division of Rheumatology, McGill University
Montreal, Quebec