How to add more value to scientific webinars and derive more value in return (example of #ARNIs in #heartfailure)

Scientific #webinars started as a necessity and key differentiator at the beginning of COVID-19. However, they are here to stay and the activity itself has become more generic, unless one can do it with a difference.

Are HCPs attending webinars because the topic seems interesting, the speaker is someone they look up to, or in the hope of learning something new? Do they know what to expect before attending the webinar? Are most of them finding these webinars interesting enough to stay on until the end and look forward to more? Do they go back satisfied? Are companies inviting select HCPs to webinars or is it a wide invitation to target as many as possible? What is the value-add we are providing them in addition to their vast knowledge? Are we conducting webinars to present what we wish to present (much like the visual aids) or to bring to HCPs what they wish to learn?

I will discuss these questions below with an example of webinars on #ARNI in #heartfailure. As most of us working in the cardiology space are aware, #ARNIs have become the new poster boys with strong evidence of their efficacy and backing by the international guidelines on #heartfailure. No wonder, there are a lot of webinars being conducted around them. However, there is too much information to do justice to the topic in one webinar. Moreover, most cardiologists would have read the guidelines over and over, and be very well familiar with them by now. In such a scenario, can another webinar on #ARNI be interesting for them to stay on until the end? Before logging in, are they aware of what are some new learnings they might be able to possibly take home from the event? Or do they log in with the hope of something novel, only to be disappointed and log out early? Are they listening to the discussion with rapt attention or is it just playing while they continue to be busy with work?

Instead of a webinar on #ARNIs in #heartfailure or guideline recommendations on #ARNIs in #heartfailure or recent studies/evidence on #ARNIs in #heartfailure, or when to use #ARNIs in #heartfailure, a more focused topic like #ARNIs in #diabetics with #heartfailure, using #ARNIs during hospitalization for decompensated heart failure, how to manage hypotension caused by the use of #ARNIs in #heartfailure, titrating the dose of #ARNIs in #heartfailure, patients with heart failure in whom ARNIs should be used cautiously, and such others would possibly resonate more with HCPs because these are the likely clinical challenges they are facing. Moreover, guidelines do not have answers to all questions. By reading the updated #ESC and #AHA guidelines on #heartfailure minutely, it is possible to easily come up with many such clinically relevant topics where evidence is lacking/scarce/debatable but are important to a clinician. It might be good to draw up a master list of such topics and approach HCPs before planning the webinars to ask them which topics would interest them. Only those interested in a particular topic can then be invited to those webinars. This way the attendees know what to look forward to and it ensures engagement during the session.

Another important point is the format. Some HCPs might want to present their own challenging cases and seek a discussion with their peers while others might want to discuss with KOLs. Some others might want KOLs to present their own cases and share their perspectives while others might want the presenter to simply discuss the evidence on the topic. Yet others might be looking at a small group of 4-8 people discussing particular challenges among themselves. More academically oriented HCPs might want to discuss their disagreements with the guidelines regarding a particular recommendation, based on their own clinical experience. Also, not everyone is a fan of PowerPoint presentations. Can we present them in the form of videos or any other format that they prefer? Asking the HCPs about these before even getting to the planning stage might ensure more engaged participation. It also allows us a choice of organizing several webinars based on the choices that come up from HCPs. Moreover, these pre-webinar questions are a good way to indirectly gather insights about each HCP's area of interest and create more customized communication for them going ahead. These could also help us identify some potential speakers for future events.

Lastly, to ensure the takeaway messages stay long enough and spread wider, it might be a good idea to create a white paper on the discussions that take place during these webinars and circulate it among attendees and others as well. Webinars should generate a pull over a period of time rather than pharma pushing them to HCPs and help us derive value as scientific partners for HCPs.

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