Introduction: In the Covid-19 pandemic, medical students and residents find themselves in a healthcare environment with measures and policies changing by the hour. Reports regarding those in training were scarce and scattered in the early pandemic, what made an overarching insight a challenge. This review compiles and analyzes the literature addressing the preparation of students and residents in the first four months of the Covid-19 pandemic to find gaps and implications for the current pandemic as well as for future scenarios.
Methods: We performed a systematic literature search and content analysis (CA) for articles available in English language that focus on the preparation of students and residents in human medicine within the first four months of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Results: We retrieved 82 articles from a wide range of journals, professional backgrounds and countries. CA identified five recurring subgroup topics of «faculty preparation», «uncertainty and mental health», «clinical knowledge», «rights and obligations» and «(self-) support and supply». Within these subgroups the main concerns of «(re)deployment», «interruption of training and career», «safety issues», «transmission of disease», and «restricted social interaction» were identified as potential stressors that hold a risk for fatigue, loss of morale and burnout.
Discussion: Students and residents are willing and able to participate, when provided with appropriate deployment, thorough supervision, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and valid knowledge. Faculties and policymakers should be in close contact with the youngest in training to value their concerns and intrinsic creativity on the scenario. The use of new technology for interaction and knowledge provision, interviews for voluntary deployment and the provision of mental health support seem appropriate measures to support students and residents under the current pandemic.
Conclusion: Our review holds thorough implications for faculties and policymakers. Not only for surge capacity, but also for the safety and the professional identity formation of those in training, it is crucial to understand their needs and concerns. Leaders should strive for a close communication with students and residents, value their intrinsic creativeness and constantly evaluate on their needs regarding knowledge aspects, safety measures, legal concerns and well-being for the construction of nation-wide homogenous policies.