Guidelines for Chairs and Speakers participating in interactive Sessions

General instructions on interactive sessions

Interactive sessions with voting pads are organised with the aim of facilitating dynamic communication with the audience, which is usually made up of physicians in practice or training. For optimal use of the facilities, special preparation is required.

During the sessions the speakers ask questions that may be answered by the audience using a keypad voting system connected to a central computer. The voting results are presented live during the sessions.
Each speaker is expected to prepare a number of multiple-choice questions (up to 5-10 for a 30 minutes talk), with up to 5 possible answers (numbered from 1 to 5) per question. Individual slides should be made for each question. A slide, with the 5 possible answers, is then projected for each question.

To express their vote the participants have at their disposal a special keypad, connected to a central computer unit, with usually two indicator lights (red and green). They simply have to press the numbered button that corresponds to the number of the answer they think is correct, whilst the green light is on. Usually the participants can give their answer in a 15-second period. The time, which remains available for voting, can be visualised on the screen. During this period the participant can change the vote by pressing another button.

The interactive system with voting pads allows an immediate answer from the audience. Answers, which remain anonymous (this is not an examination), appear on the screen as bars, or %. The length of the bars is proportional to the number of answers received.

Usually, divided opinion are expressed: the speaker must be prepared to comment the answers by showing one or two additional slides, summarising what is, in his/her view, the present state of the art. The reference of the material shown should be given; presentation of numerous personal data is not encouraged. If major discrepancies in opinion appear, the participants should be encouraged to defend their own votes.

Important notes

For speaker presenting in interactive sessions:

• Questions should be simple and clear.
• Each question should have only one correct answer.
• Give the audience a 15 second break after each question.
• You will be asked to upload your slides prior to the Congress (exact date to be confirmed). Depending on the system used, a technician may contact you to know the structure of your questions and answers i.e. the number and type of choices (three to five choices: yes /no). The number of choices may be fixed to the entire session.

For chairs of interactive sessions:

• Chairpersons and presenters / panellists must establish contact well in advance of the Congress to discuss and harmonise all above measures for a fluent, lively performance.
• Chairpersons, at the beginning of the session, should introduce the voting system to the audience and perform some tests with the help of the technician.

Case presentations

Case presentations are presented in Grand Round sessions.

The title should present the case without suggesting any diagnosis.

Divide presentation into three parts:

1. Diagnostic evaluation including history
   Ask the audience two of three short questions, with four or five reply options for each. "What would be the next step?"
2. Differential diagnosis
   Before giving the diagnosis, ask the audience for their choice out of four or five differential diagnoses.
3. Discussion
   Ask the audience for alternative diagnosis, and/or therapeutic procedures, or epidemiologic topics (one or two questions)