Pandemic and medical education of surgical residents in a tertiary care hospital in India: a cross-sectional study

Authors

  • Raghul Sekar Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India
  • Arun Alexander Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India
  • Kalaiarasi Raja Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India
  • Sunil Kumar Saxena Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-2902.isj20213979

Keywords:

Surgery, Residents, Residency, COVID-19, India

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has brought tremendous changes in the functioning of residency training. The impact was maximal on surgical residents whose hands-on training was affected. This study aimed to assess the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on medical education and training of surgical residents. 

Methods: A single institutional cross-sectional survey was conducted in a large tertiary care hospital in India. It included residents in various surgical specialties. The survey was divided into six sections to cover all the aspects of their residency.

Results: Out of 106 residents who participated in the study, 95 (59.3%) had worked in the dedicated COVID-19 facility, and 97 (91.5%) feared transmitting the infection to their family members. There was a considerable reduction in both elective and emergency surgeries performed by residents (p<0.05).

There was a significant reduction in the working hours per day, helping residents get more time for research work. Further Maslach burnout inventory score was 7.43±2.35 after the pandemic, which shows a statistically significant reduction (p<0.001) in residents' burnout.

Conclusions: Surgical residents had to balance their residency training with caring for COVID-19 patients. There had been a decrease in their hands-on training, clinical exposure, and working hours. Both theoretical and practical training of surgical residents has been affected during this pandemic. This survey can be used as a tool to improve the lives of surgical residents in any pandemic situation or during further waves of COVID-19.

Author Biographies

Raghul Sekar, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India

Department of Otolaryngology

Arun Alexander, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India

Department of Otolaryngology

Kalaiarasi Raja, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India

Department of Otolaryngology

Sunil Kumar Saxena, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India

Department of Otolaryngology

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Published

2021-09-28

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Section

Original Research Articles