6347 GOSHpods – tackling challenges in a growing podcast programme

Objectives Podcasts are well-established as a means of delivering medical educational content to large audiences.1 The podcast network at Great Ormond Street Hospital ('GOSHpods') was established in October 2020 with this aim in mind. The network now comprises over 150 episodes and over 57,000 listens across all major platforms. Current research largely explores the usefulness of podcasts in medical education, with little said about the challenges faced. However, our network is uniquely produced by a world-renowned tertiary hospital, meaning that there are multiple stakeholder groups with sometimes competing priorities. As such our aim was to evaluate the network three years in, to explore its impact and to recognise and address any challenges. Methods An online survey, which was mentioned at the end of each episode, was distributed via a link in episode descriptions. A SWOT analysis highlighted threats to the programme. These were explored at a workshop attended by representatives from the main stakeholder groups, including Digital Learning, Communications, Education, and podcast hosts. Through presentations and structured discussions, the workshop focussed on ways to tackle challenges, develop the network and generate action points. Results Feedback survey – Between February and August 2023 a total of 23 responses were collected from a mixture of internal (70%) and external (30%) listeners. 57% of respondents had heard about the podcasts through word of mouth, followed by social media promotion (26%). Free-text feedback suggested the podcasts were considered a good source of learning. The limitations of the survey included a small sample size and low uptake. Workshop – Three challenges were highlighted from the SWOT analyses: 1) balancing stakeholder priorities; 2) defining and measuring impact; 3) clarifying peer review processes. Workshop discussions resulted in objectives and guidelines will be refined and implemented in the coming months. The limitations of the workshop included a lack of representation from our audience. Conclusion The survey and workshop were the first step in tackling challenges to allow us to develop the podcast network. Exploring challenges with input from all stakeholder groups has resulted in more comprehensive guidelines which could be extended to other educational podcasts. We will continue to develop the network over the coming months. For all such medical education podcasts, more research is needed into the impact on patient care. Reference Cho D, Cosimini M, Espinoza J. Podcasting in medical education: a review of the literature. Korean J Med Educ., 2017. doi:10.3946/kjme.2017.69.