Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic mediated changing trends in nuclear medicine education and training: time to change and scintillate

Gnanasegaran, Gopinath; Páez, Diana; Sathekge, Mike; Giammarile, Francesco; Fanti, Stefano; Chiti, Arturo; Bom, H S; Vinjamuri, Sobhan; Pascual, Thomas; Bomanji, Jamshed

doi:10.1007/s00259-021-05241-2

Cited by 13 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(14 reference statements)

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“…Teaching, practical training and research were affected by the pandemic ( 49 ), and almost all on-site congresses and meetings were cancelled during 2020. However, communications technology allowed the reshaping of educational activities; indeed, webinars and virtual congresses became widely accepted and successful events ( 50 , 51 , 52 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of COVID-19 on Nuclear Medicine in Europe

Kirienko

Telo

Hustinx

et al. 2022

Seminars in Nuclear Medicine

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The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly changed hospital activities, including nuclear medicine (NM) practice. This review aimed to determine and describe the impact of COVID-19 on NM in Europe and critically discuss actions and strategies applied to face the pandemic. A literature search for relevant articles was performed on PubMed, covering COVID-19 studies published up until January 21, 2021. The findings were summarized according to general and specific activities within the NM departments. The pandemic strongly challenged NM departments: a reduction in the workforce has been experienced in almost every centre in Europe due to personnel diagnosed with COVID-19 and other reasons related to the coronavirus. NM departments introduced procedures to limit COVID-19 transmission, including environmental and personal hygiene, social distancing, rescheduling of non–high-priority procedures, the correct use of personal protective equipment, and prompt identification of suspect COVID-19 cases. A proportion of the departments experienced a delay in radiopharmaceuticals supply or technical assistance during the pandemic. Furthermore, the pandemic resulted in a significant reduction of diagnostic and therapeutic NM procedures, as well as a reduced level of care for patients affected by diseases other than COVID-19, such as cancer or acute cardiovascular disease. Telemedicine services have been set up to maintain medical assistance for patients. COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped human work resources, patient's diagnostic and therapeutic management, operative models, radiopharmaceutical supplies, teaching, training and research of NM departments. Limits of availability of resources emerged. Nonetheless, we have to provide continuity in care, especially for fragile patients, maintaining infection control measures. Challenges that have been faced should reshape our vision and get us prepared for the future.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of COVID-19 on Nuclear Medicine in Europe

Kirienko

Telo

Hustinx

et al. 2022

Seminars in Nuclear Medicine

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“…Adoption of IPC measures is essential to protect health workers and patients while continuing to provide medical services (10,11,(22)(23)(24). Thus, availability of PPE is critical.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

One Year Later: Global Impact of COVID-19 on Nuclear Medicine Departments; an International Follow-up Survey

Giammarile¹,

Bolton

Haj³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Aim: As a follow-up to the international survey conducted in April 2020, this survey aims to provide a situational snapshot of the COVID-19 impact on nuclear medicine services worldwide, one year later. The survey was designed to determine the impact of the pandemic at two specific time-points: June and October 2020 and compare them to the previously collected data.Materials and Methods: A web-based questionnaire, in the same format as the April 2020 survey was disseminated to nuclear medicine facilities worldwide. Survey data was collected using a secure software platform hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); it was made available for 6 weeks, from November 23 to December 31, 2020.Results: From 505 replies from 96 countries, data was extracted from 355 questionnaires (of which 338 were fully completed). The responses came from centres evenly distributed in different regions of the world and with different income status. Regional differences and challenges across the world were identified and analysed. Globally, the volume of nuclear medicine procedures decreased by 73.3% in June 2020 and 56.9% in October 2020. Among the nuclear medicine procedures, oncological PET studies showed less of a decline in utilization compared to conventional nuclear medicine and particularly nuclear cardiology. The impact was also significantly less in high-income countries. A trend towards a return to the pre-COVID-19 situation of the supply chains of radioisotopes, generators, and other essential materials was evident.Conclusion: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significant reduction in nuclear medicine diagnostic and therapeutic procedures throughout 2020. In June, the global decline recorded in the survey was greater than in October when there was a slight improvement. However, the total number of procedures continued below that recorded in April 2020, and less than half of the volumes normally carried out before the pandemic

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“…Online educational resources which have proliferated in general, gained increasing popularity by providing readily accessible learning material for physicians challenged by traditional onsite learning limitations and reduced case volumes ( Table 1 ). 20 Many resources are provided at no cost by medical societies (ie, The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 21 ), international agencies (ie, The International Atomic Energy Agency 22 ), or as components of commercial websites (ie, Aunt Minnie 23 and Radiopaedia 24 ). Additionally, the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine provided extensive online nuclear medicine teaching files to compensate for the paucity of cases during this period of time.…”

Section: Response To Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

“… https://www.imaios.com eScan Academy + Independent online resource with nuclear medicine lectures and interactive teaching material. www.eScan.com Adapted from Gnanasegaran ( 20 ). #Free content.…”

Section: Response To Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These tools provide various advantages over traditional “on-site” learning, such as increased time flexibility, access to large amounts of information, and individualized learning. 20 Nevertheless, online learning has been associated with limitations such as increased social distancing and distractibility and as such may be best employed as a complement to more traditional learning methodologies.…”

Section: Response To Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Remote Reading and Teaching of Nuclear Medicine in the Era of COVID-19

Zamora

Moadel

Song

et al. 2022

Seminars in Nuclear Medicine

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Community SARS-CoV-2 has profoundly affected traditional elements of learning and teaching in nuclear medicine and diagnostic radiology departments. The response of the nuclear medicine community to the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic can be described in 3 phases: accommodation, consolidation and optimization, and a return towards normalcy. Adoption of virtual communication platforms has emerged as the crucial interim tool for preservation of trainee supervision and diagnostic imaging education. Development of supplemental teaching materials, refocusing research interests, and relaxation of requirements have all contributed toward stabilization of the residency programs. As we embark on a gradual return to normalcy, many of the virtual solutions that were employed have gained a degree of enduring popularity and may find a place in the postpandemic period.

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic mediated changing trends in nuclear medicine education and training: time to change and scintillate

Cited by 13 publications

References 14 publications

The Impact of COVID-19 on Nuclear Medicine in Europe

The Impact of COVID-19 on Nuclear Medicine in Europe

One Year Later: Global Impact of COVID-19 on Nuclear Medicine Departments; an International Follow-up Survey

Remote Reading and Teaching of Nuclear Medicine in the Era of COVID-19

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