Title : Evaluating the success of a Post-Covid Hybrid Conference Model in Ophthalmic Education

Background: Hybrid learning models are accelerating in medical education, reshaping how teaching is delivered as we move beyond COVID-19 by widening accessibility and overcoming geographical constraints (Rose, 2020). Ophthalmology exposure to undergraduates is often limited, and hybrid educational events can support skill development in the post-COVID era (Scantling-Birch et al., 2022), (Rubinger et al., 2020). Despite growing interest, evidence to assess effectiveness, acceptability and educational value of hybrid ophthalmology conferences are scarce. 

To address this, we delivered the first iteration of a hybrid run National Student Ophthalmology Conference (NSOC) in May 2025. Although NSOC has historically run as an online-only event, its fourth annual conference introduced a hybrid model.

This cross-sectional study evaluates the success of a hybrid ophthalmology conference. The aim of this study is to determine impact on attendee experience, perceived knowledge development and feasibility of hybrid educational conference within ophthalmic education.  

Method: A one-day hybrid ophthalmology conference was held in May 2025 for healthcare professionals and medical students. The conference was delivered simultaneously in-person and via a live-streaming system (zoom). The programme consisted of three Key-note lectures from ophthalmologists, and four workshops. Attendees were divided into small groups to maximise engagement in workshops. Workshops that could not be replicated virtually, such as microsuturing, were replaced with equivalent online sessions to maintain educational value. 

Attendees were invited to complete a post-conference survey which employed a mixed-method approach of open-ended and Likert scale questions (1-5), which was thematically and descriptively analysed. 

Results: The conference hosted 150 attendees (97 online; 55 in person). The post-conference survey received 119 responses (response rate 79.33%, N = 150), of which 104 were eligible following consent withdrawal.  Respondents represented 9 countries and 53 institutions.

Mean rating for the keynote lectures was 4.02/5. In-person workshops were rated 4.07/5, compared to 3.99/5 online, highlighting the difference in perceived educational value between the modalities. 

Recommendation rates for attending the conference were high both in-person (4.55) and online (4.66/5). Similarly, intention to return was strong both in-person and online (4.38/5 and 4.36/5 respectively). Ratings lower <3/5 in online attendees mainly related to technical issues. Online participants claimed the mean likelihood to attend the conference in person the following year is 3.57/5. 

Thematic analysis identified three priorities for future hybrid conferences, involving increased skills training, advanced clinical content, sessions on technologies and Artificial Intelligence.  

Conclusion: Findings from the conference demonstrate successfully delivered high-quality ophthalmology education, with strong ratings. This study shows that using hybrid delivery is feasible in supporting simultaneous engaging workshops despite different attendance modalities, which widens access without compromising the educational value. Technical issues were the main barrier to satisfaction, highlighting the need of robust digital infrastructure for hybrid models to function effectively. 

As one of the first evaluations of a hybrid ophthalmology conference, these results highlight evidence for further development of scalable and accessible hybrid educational strategies within ophthalmology.

Umme Kalsoom Alam is an FY1 doctor from the UK, with a strong interest in ophthalmology, working in Russel's Hall Hospital. Her passion for ophthalmology led her to identify the lack of medical school teaching in ophthalmology, leading her to develop an international teaching series, bridging the gap in medical school teaching. Having co-led the national student ophthalmology conference 2025, she developed a network for students from across the UK to come together and get a deeper dive into ophthalmology.