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

• Published in: International journal of surgery (London, England) Vol. 88; p. 105903
• Main Authors: Clements, Joshua Michael, Burke, Josh, Nally, Deirdre, Rabie, Mohamed, Kane, Elizabeth, Barlow, Emma, Mohamed, Walid, King, Martin, McClymont, Liusaidh, George, Manish, Tolofari, Sotonye, McKay, Siobhan, Jayasekera, Ashan, Steele, Duncan, Badran, Abdul, Summers, Dominic, Harji, Deena, Weston-Petrides, Gina, Nasher, Omar, Baker, Benjamin, Patel, Shaneel, Boyapati, Raghuram, Peckham-Cooper, Adam, Bashyam, Anthony, Stovell, Matthew, Zhang, Catherine, Thomas, Rachel, Sarmah, Panchali, Wilkins, Alexander, Dua, Radhika, Gokani, Vimal, Dovell, George, Rintoul-Hoad, Sophie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2021; IJS Publishing Group Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd
• Subjects: COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cross-Sectional Study; Education, Medical, Graduate; Female; Humans; Impact; Ireland; Male; Pandemic; Prospective Studies; SARS-CoV-2; Specialties, Surgical - education; Surgical training; Surveys and Questionnaires; United Kingdom; United Kingdom; Ireland; Impact; COVID-19; Pandemic; Surgical training
• ISSN: 1743-9191; 1743-9159
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2021.105903

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) 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. 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 for >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% of trainees reported that they would definitely meet all required competencies. 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. •The COVID-STAR study has demonstrated an overall negative immediate impact on surgical training.•Redeployment to non-surgical environments was prevalent with limited educational value.•The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the delivery of surgical services.•Virtual education and learning modalities are being used with increasing frequency.•COVID-19 has negative implications for recruitment and retention of the surgical workforce.