Whatʼs All the “Hype” About Skype? The Effectiveness of Video Calling in Clinical Education

Abstract

Background and Purpose. The purpose of this case study is to determine if video calling is an effective method of conducting distance site visits with students based on student preference, time, and cost-effectiveness. Participants. Thirty-two Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree students in their third year of study were asked to participate in this pilot study survey. Twentyseven (92.6%) students participated in the survey. Case Description. Students were required to participate in video calls with the academic coordinator of clinical education (ACCE) during their final clinical education experience. These calls were conducted during the midterm week of the affiliation. Upon completion of the clinical affiliation, students were asked to complete a survey designed to evaluate the benefits, limitations, communication preferences, and feasibility of use of video calling as a method of communicating with students about their overall clinical experience. Descriptive data based on student feedback, and comparative analysis of cost and time efficiency were analyzed. Outcomes. When students were asked to describe their initial feelings about using the video call format (prior to the video call), 72.3% of total responses were positive. After the video call, 91.1% of student responses were positive. Of the student responses, 100% indicated that they were “neutral to very satisfied” with the video call experience, and 66.7% preferred video calling versus an onsite visit (16.7%) or telephone contact (16.7%). With regard to time-effectiveness, the average video call was 25 minutes per student. Therefore, meetings with 16 students took a total time of approximately 8 hours. Additionally, there were no set-up costs for using Skype® or FaceTime,® as both pieces of software used for the purpose of this study were available free of charge, resulting in this method of communication being cost-effective as compared to onsite visits. Conclusions. This pilot project provides preliminary data that video calling meets the demands of providing a cost- and time-effective means of communication with students during clinical education experiences. Furthermore, students are receptive to its use and feel that is beneficial in maintaining the student-ACCE relationship during clinical affiliations. The use of video calling can provide exceptional opportunities for ACCEs to develop clinical partnerships beyond local or busy metropolitan area clinics and into rural areas and communities of the medically underserved.