Benefits, disadvantages and challenges of virtual conferencing in the COVID-19 era: Adjusting to the new normal
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Date
2022-02-17
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Publisher
College of Health Sciences, Osun State University
Abstract
Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has had tremendous effect on the medical and scientific
community. Measures instituted to curb the spread of the disease such as physical distancing and ban on
large gatherings have significantly altered conferencing activities of medical professional associations.
With no end in sight to the pandemic, it is certain that medical professional associations may have to make
do with purely virtual or hybrid conferencing for some time to come. The objective of this paper is to
highlight the benefits, disadvantages and challenges of virtual conferencing
Methods: We searched Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, and AJOL databases from January 1, 2021 to
December 31, 2021 for publications describing the benefits, disadvantages and challenges of virtual
conferencing during the pandemic. This, together with authors' experience formed the resource base for
this work.
Conclusion: We propose ways the scientific community in Nigeria can maximize the virtual conferencing
while the pandemic lasts. We also advocate increased discussion about how to improve the virtual
conferencing culture and the development of guidelines for purely virtual or hybrid scientific conferences
Description
Keywords
Virtual conferencing, COVID-19 Era, Benefits and limitations