COVID-19 impact on Surgical Training and Recovery Planning (COVID-STAR) - A cross-sectional observational study

Abstract

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant changes to healthcare systems which impact the delivery of surgical training. This study aimed to investigate the qualitative impact of COVID-19 on surgical training in the United Kingdom (UK) & Republic of Ireland (ROI) Methods This national, collaborative, cross-sectional study involving 13 surgical trainee associations distributed a pan-surgical specialty questionnaire on the impact of COVID-19 on surgical training over 4 weeks in May 2020. Various aspects of training were assessed. Results 810 completed responses were analysed (males=401, females=390) from all deaneries and training grades. The perceived negative overall impact of the pandemic on surgical training experience was significant. (Weighted average = 8.66). 41% of respondents (n=301) were redeployed with 74% redeployed >4 weeks. Complete loss of training was reported in elective operating (69.5%), outpatient activity (67.3%) and endoscopy (69.5%). A reduction of >50% was reported in emergency operating (48%) and completion of work-based assessments (WBAs) (46%). 3.3% (n= 17) of respondents reported plans to leave medicine altogether. Cancellations in study leave and regional teaching programmes without rescheduling were reported in 72% and 60% of the cohort respectively. Elective operative exposure and WBAs completion were the primary reported factors affecting potential trainee progression. Only 9% reported that they would definitely meet all required competencies. Conclusion COVID-19 has had a negative impact on surgical training across all grades and specialties, with implications for trainee progression, recruitment and retention of the surgical workforce. Further investigation of the long-term impact at a national level is required.

Reducing waiting lists for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: An intensive approach to aid COVID-19 recovery

“…The COVID-19 period has also had a substantial impact upon surgical training across all grades, with complete loss of training in elective operating during the first lockdown reported in almost 50% of cases, and over 40% of junior trainees being redeployed to alternative specialties [ 9 , 10 ]. An intensive period of repetitive training, even with segmental operative learning, for example umbilical port placement, may provide an excellent opportunity for trainees to regain their basic skills and confidence quickly after a prolonged period of reduced training opportunities.…”

Teaching and Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Topic Modeling Study

“…Training in pharmacy, palliative care, family medicine, and public health medicine have also been affected [53][54][55]. The real impact on the training and assessments, or the absence thereof, on the residents of this period is yet to be fully comprehended [56][57][58]. Mental healthcare in middle-and low-income countries has also been hit where these may, even at normal times, not be a priority [59].…”

The Impact of COVID-19 on Surgical Training: the Past, the Present and the Future

“…The majority of them described it ‘severe’ or ‘significant’ and some even ‘catastrophic’ [ 19 , 21 , 22 , 28 , 30 – 43 ]. These reports come both from developed [ 13 , 21 , 22 , 24 , 26 , 31 – 34 , 44 – 52 ] and developing countries [ 28 , 30 , 35 , 53 – 55 ] with very different healthcare systems. Moreover, the results were uniform between a variety of surgical specialties; general surgery [ 13 , 19 , 21 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 37 , 41 , 42 , 44 , 47 , 56 , 57 ], orthopaedics [ 19 , 24 , 58 ], ENT (ear, nose, throat) surgery [ 19 , 31 , 50 ], vascular surgery [ 19 , 22 , 26 ], urology [ 22 , 26 , 53 ], oral and maxillofacial surgery [ 19 , 33 ], and neurosurgery [ 19 , 54 , 59 ].…”

“…During the COVID-19 pandemic, outpatient clinics were either cancelled or converted from ‘face-to-face’ to virtual consultations [ 21 , 22 , 30 , 34 , 46 , 55 , 58 , 66 , 79 – 82 ]. This, initially, decreased the exposure of trainees to supervised outpatient clinics, further limiting their training opportunities [ 19 ].…”