Table 4.

Open-ended verbatim comments from attendees of virtual CE activities

Positive Comments

Continue the same format with yearly update.

I very much enjoyed the virtual format of the symposium.

Good job transitioning to a virtual conference

I really like the virtual format. The platform you used was excellent.

I would like future meetings to have online virtual component in addition to live conference.

Silver lining of COVID is that I was able to attend this conference virtually. I would not have been able to attend this conference in FL as originally planned due to time/money constraints. Please continue to offer virtual options in the future.

The reason why I don’t typically attend CMEs is because I need to spend money to travel and stay in a hotel. I don’t have the time nor do I want to spend money unnecessarily for travel and lodging. I assume a lot of my colleagues feel the same. I would recommend keeping the option of online/virtual attendance next year even if Covid-19 ends up being controlled.

I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of a virtual conference and would like more in the future.

I really enjoyed the convenience of the virtual meeting and cost savings!! Although I would love to have been able to have this be a live event, it was done very well as a virtual event. Thank you for making the best of a complicated situation!! Please continue virtual conference. It was awesome to have the international speaker.

Negative Comments

Online access was a royal headache the first morning of presentation – taped presentations should be made available for future online courses so access issues will not interfere with seeing presentations For a first virtual conference, it was good. Audience response time standardisation would be helpful – some presenters gave little time. The logging in was difficult at times Live conference will be amazing to have a chance to interact with speakers and experts and vendors. The virtual format diminished the overall effectiveness of the lectures.