The EL-POCO survey

General information

EL-POCO stands for vascular e-Learning in the POst COvid era.

This project is the continuation of the EL-COVID study (more info here) and it aims to examine if the EL-COVID findings persist after the pandemic outbreak and whether the perception of vascular e-Learning is now different.

It was apparent that there are lessons to be learned from the COVID-19 related e-Learning exponential growth and the EL-POCO survey aims in providing more information of where vascular e-learning is currently at.

Phase 1 (development): A 16-question form was developed and hosted on Google Forms (copy of the questionnaire).

Phase 2 (data collection): All colleagues who had previously participated in the EL-COVID study were contacted and asked to fill in the form. Data collection was monitored for duplicates, malicious content or participation by individuals who did not participate in the EL-COVID study. As of October 2025, data collection is completed.

Phase 3 (data analysis): At present, data analysis is completed. The anonymised raw data is available at Mendeley Data.

Phase 4 (preparing and editing the manuscript): We are currently authoring the manuscript and revise/edit the draft. It will be submitted for publication within the next few weeks.

List of the EL-POCO collaborators:

  1. Nikolaos Patelis, Νational & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece; Mouwasat Hospital Co, Saudi Arabia [Primary investigator]
  2. Paulo Eduardo Ocke Reis, Federal University Fluminense, Brazil
  3. Lamisse Karam, Hotel Dieu de France, Lebanon
  4. Vincent Jongkind, Amsterdam University Medical Center, The Netherlands
  5. George A. Antoniou, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, UK
  6. Hubert Stepak, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
  7. Demetrios Moris, Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
  8. Mihai Ionac, Timisoara University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Romania
  9. Ivan Cvjetko, University Hospital Merkur, Croatia
  10. Alexei Svetlikov, Vascular & endovascular surgery Center, National Scientific-Clinical Memorial Hospital. “Professor I.I. Mechnikov”, North-Western Medical University, The Russian Federation
  11. Fernando Gallardo Pedrajas, Hospital Quironsalud Marbella and CDG, Spain
  12. Harm P. Ebben, Amsterdam University Medical Center, The Netherlands
  13. Sviatoslav Kostiv, Ternopil University Clinic, Ukraine
  14. Leonid Magnitskiy, Pirogov City Hospital No1, The Russian Federation
  15. Sean Matheiken, Bedford Hospital NHS Trust, UK
  16. Sotirios Georgopoulos, Laiko General Hospital, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
  17. Chris Klonaris, Laiko General Hospital, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
  18. Bahaa Arefai, North Cumberland Integrated Care, UK
  19. Fabien Laryer, Department of Vascular Surgery, Hospital of Antibes Juan-les-Pins, Antibes, France
  20. Nyityasmono Nugroho, Faculty of Medicine University of Indonesia – Cipto Mangunkusumo National Hospital, Indonesia
  21. Mario D’Oria, Department of Clinical Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Italy

For more information, please contact Dr Nikolaos Patelis.