First Impressions: Educational videos have an increasing role in medical education. This increase may be attributed to advances in video recording and dissemination technology, increased demands on educator time, decreased opportunities (i.e., 80 hour rule, short patient stays) for learns to witness first hand many procedures. In Rehim and Chung’s (2015) article, they provide practical suggestions for recording and editing clinical procedures. For equipment, they acknowledged a variety devices including head-mounted cameras but ultimately recommended a ~$500 camcorder that requires a person other than the surgeon/physician to operate. Having a person dedicated to recording was considered a “con,” but having a consistent viewing angle of the procedure was considered a more important “pro.” It’s unclear if the authors had experience with the popular GoPro mounted devices as an alternative option.
A number of suggestions were offered for recording. The authors noted obtaining consent for publication prior to recording and maintaining patient confidentiality during filming (e.g., avoiding filming face or showing identifying information). If a patient is identifiable, the consent process for how the video will be disseminated is of upmost importance. If consent to videotape was obtained during a time of duress (e.g., acute emergency) the follow-up on consent is recommend. The authors recommended consistent positioning of the camera (e.g., directly over shoulder of surgeon). They discouraged shifting between surgeon view and assistant view which is disruptive to viewers. Zooming is essential during aspects of the procedure but again should be used judiciously. Another consideration is to maintain a suitable and consistent background or frame for the area of focus. The authors recommended a darker green or blue surgical towel around the areas of focus. An audio recording can be completed during or after the procedure.
For editing, the authors noted a few options for sated they used iMovie for Apple users and Sony Vegas Studio for PC users. Key features of editing software include video timeline track, a storyboard, and monitor screen to preview video frames. They recommended videos be no longer than 3-5 minutes and suggested the use of transition slides to highlight parts of a procedure. Related, text can often be added to images to provide viewers with more guidance or information.
The article did not offer suggestions for how to disseminate the video. Having a secure server where access to designated learners is one option. Posting to sites such as Vimeo and YouTube makes access universal, but would warrant a detailed consent prior to doing so if patient can be identified in video.
Ralph A. Gillies, PhD
GRU Medical College of Georgia
Department of Family Medicine;
Educational Innovation Institute
Abstract: Digital video recordings are increasingly used across various medical and surgical disciplines including hand surgery for documentation of patient care, resident education, scientific presentations, and publications. In recent years, the introduction of sophisticated computer hardware and software technology has simplified the process of digital video production and improved means of disseminating large digital data files. However, the creation of high-quality surgical video footage requires a basic understanding of key technical considerations, together with creativity and sound aesthetic judgment of the videographer. In this article we outline the practical steps involved in equipment preparation, video recording, editing, and archiving, as well as guidance for the choice of suitable hardware and software equipment.
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