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International Utilization of Online Training for Cleft Care: Analysis of Penetration
Derek M. Culnan, Aaron Oliker, Court B. Cutting, Roberto L Flores
Indiana University Plastic Surgery
2014-02-28
Presenter: Derek Culnan
Affidavit:
Director Name: Rajiv Sood
Author Category: Fellow Plastic Surgery
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: Craniomaxillofacial
We have produced a free, web-based, multimedia surgical simulator in partnership with Smile Train, which demonstrates the cardinal procedures in cleft surgery. This tool is intended to help surgeons in developing countries care for their local cleft populations. Limitations of Internet access and local technology may hinder use in the developing world. We report on the international utilization and market analysis over the initial six-month period.
Users were recorded from 67 countries representing 6.1 billion persons or 86.4% of the global population. 48 countries were classified as developing economies, representing 5.2 billion people. The poorest developing countries accessing the Simulator in terms of per capital income were Congo ($400), Ethiopia ($1,200), and Nepal ($1,300), in terms of health care expenditures by GDP were Myanmar (2%) Pakistan (2.2%) and Indonesia (2.6%) and by percent of population below the poverty line were Haiti (80%) Congo (71%) and Nigeria (70%). Interestingly, the simulator is used in 18 countries with active armed conflicts and 17 where the US State Department advises against travel including Egypt, Iraq and Columbia.
The surgical simulator is accessible globally and has quickly gained use in 67 countries representing 86% of the global population including 5.2 billion of the worlds developing population. These include the poorest and highest cleft rate countries. Projects directed towards international education of surgical care in the developing world should strongly consider the use of web-based digital technology as a means to immediately access and educate caregivers, particularly in countries with significant economic and political constraints.
