Education Research: Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on neurology trainees in Italy

Abstract

Objective:To assess the impact of SARS-CoV2 outbreak on Neurology resident training in Italy.Method:We created a web-based survey regarding the changes in clinical, research, and educational activity of Neurology trainees in Italy during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the preventive measures undertaken by local Institutions to reduce the risk of contagion.Results:79 residents working in Italy completed the survey. 87.3% of trainees reported a substantial reduction in their neurological duties since SARS-CoV-2 appeared in Italy, and 17.8% were also recruited or volunteered for COVID-19-dedicated wards. Likewise, more than 60% of trainees experienced a reduction or interruption in research activity. As regards the perceived impact of COVID-19 outbreak on their neurological training, almost 70% of surveyed trainees believe that SARS-CoV-2 pandemic had or will have a negative impact on their formation as neurologists, for different reasons. Furthermore, trainees reported a consistent exposure (69.6%) to confirmed positive SARS-CoV-2 cases at work, with divergent surveillance and preventive measures taken by local institutions.Conclusions:Overall, the survey shows that SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Italy has had a subjective negative impact for Neurology residents on didactics, clinical, and research training as well as training abroad. SARS-CoV-2 outbreak poses many challenges to our academic institutions and training programs, and addressing these issues promptly is crucial to ensure continued quality of trainees’ neurological education. Sharing solutions and ideas among the international neurological community might help Neurology training programs worldwide to better counteract these problems.

Repercusión de la pandemia por COVID-19 en la formación de los residentes de neurología españoles

“…En dicho estudio, se describe un diferente grado de afectación según la especialidad, llegando en algunos casos incluso a considerar que su formación había mejorado durante la pandemia. En otro estudio realizado a residentes de neurología en Italia, hasta un 34% refirió un impacto positivo de la pandemia, por haberles estimulado en el estudio o haber mejorado sus conocimientos sobre enfermedades respiratorias 8 . En los resultados de la presente encuesta sorprende que un 19% no estaban interesados en realizar las rotaciones perdidas y más de un 30% no habían recibido apoyo de sus servicios para poder recuperarlas.…”

“…En cuanto al presente trabajo, más del 75% de los residentes dispuso solo ocasionalmente de EPI o tuvo que reutilizar los que ya habían usado otros compañeros. Por otra parte, menos de la mitad de nuestros encuestados recibió una formación específica para su correcta utilización, datos equiparables a los reflejados por compañeros italianos 8 que contrastan con los expuestos en otra serie de residentes de neurocirugía, donde se proporcionó formación en relación con los EPI en cerca del 60% de los residentes 16 .…”

Innovation in resident education – Description of the Neurology International Residents Videoconference and Exchange (NIRVE) program

“…Proficiency with telemedicine and tele-education is however heterogeneous across training programs [11]. Abati et al report the challenges and negative impact of COVID-19 on neurology training and highlighted the need for an international collaboration and shared solution to overcome this issue [12]. To our knowledge, no previously published educational initiative "by the residents, for residents" gathers neurology trainees from all continents on a monthly basis.…”

The contribution of the Italian residents in neurology to the COVID-19 crisis: admirable generosity but neurological training remains their priority

“…Probably as the consequence of their dedication to work and the huge effort sustained by their tutors to continue the practical training and to deliver remote theoretical teaching, all the residents have passed their annual evaluation last November. They also managed to continue their research activities and to expand them to include COVID-related issues [ 4 – 7 ].…”

“…Training abroad has been canceled or postponed. Virtual and remote learning have been implemented and different surveys demonstrated the concern to ensure continued quality of trainees’ neurologic education [ 7 ]. Neurology residents also largely contributed in describing the neurological aspects of COVID-19 with original studies [ 8 , 9 ].…”