The Continuing Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Neurosurgical Training at the 1-Year Mark: Results of a Nationwide Survey of Neurosurgery Residents in Turkey


Sahin B., HANALİOĞLU Ş.

WORLD NEUROSURGERY, cilt.151, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 151
  • Basım Tarihi: 2021
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.04.137
  • Dergi Adı: WORLD NEUROSURGERY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, Index Islamicus, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Hacettepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

-OBJECTIVE: The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a significant transformation in medical practice and training. This nationwide survey study aims to evaluate the 1-year impact of the pandemic on training of neurosurgical residents. METHODS: A 38-question Web-based survey was sent to 356 neurosurgery residents. Two hundred and thirty-five participated in the study (66% response rate), representing more than half of all neurosurgical residents in the country. RESULTS: Assignment to direct COVID-19 medical care was common (85.5%). Many of the neurosurgery residents (37.9%) were tested positive for COVID-19. Almost half of the respondents reported a decrease in work hours. Most participants (84.3%) reported a decline in total operative case volume (mean change,-29.1% +/- 1.6%), largely as a result of a decrease in elective (-33.2% +/- 1.6%) as opposed to emergency cases (-5.1% +/- 1.8%). For theoretic education, most respondents (54.9%) indicated a negative impact, whereas 25.1% reported a positive impact. For practical training, most respondents (78.7%) reported an adverse effect. A decrease in elective surgical case volume predicted a positive impact on theoretic training but a negative impact on practical training. Research productivity was reported by 33.2% to have decreased and by 23% to have increased. Forty-two percent indicated an increase in concerns about their training and career, with a negative impact on practical training being the most important predictor. Most (57.4%) had considered extending residency training to overcome negative effects of the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 has had a significant impact on neurosurgical practice and training. Effective measures should be used to mitigate these effects and better prepare for the future challenges.