The Impact of COVID-19 on Surgical Education: A Monocentric Survey of Residents Training in Surgical Specialties

doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-602831/v1

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Research Article

The Impact of COVID-19 on Surgical Education: A Monocentric Survey of Residents Training in Surgical Specialties

https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-602831/v1

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published 31 Dec, 2021

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BACKGROUND: This study aims to identify the effects of the COVID-19 on surgical resident education at University Laval during first wave of the pandemic of spring 2020.

METHODS: We conducted a web-based survey study to all residents training within one of the ten surgical specialties at University Laval, Quebec City. The survey focused on clinical teaching hours, appreciation of activities and novelties experienced and the impacts of virtual teaching. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed to summarize the data.

RESULTS: There were 48 surgical residents who responded to our survey. There were participants from ten specialties. During the pandemic the mean number of weekly teaching hours dropped from 4.31 to 3.69 hours. The most appreciated activity was teaching sessions lead by a staff surgeon. More than 80% of respondents reported having partaken in other activities at some time during an online class while over 70% expressed retaining less when material was taught online rather than in person.

CONCLUSION: Our survey provides insight for surgical programs to improve resident teaching and illustrates the necessity to optimize teaching schedules rapidly in times of pandemic. Even though the appreciation of virtual learning seems unsatisfactory by certain residents, trainees still require and appreciate teaching by their mentors.

Educational Psychology

Surgery

Medical education

Survey

Resident

COVID-19

The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the SARS-CoV2 global pandemic in spring of 2020 (1). The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted and destabilized surgical residencies notably with reduced operating time and diminished surgical exposure across all fields (2–3). During peak outbreaks, limiting the numbers of residents on medical wards resulted in reduced teaching opportunities and significant restructuring (4). These containment measures have had important ramifications on the training of future surgeons (5). This situation was not different at University Laval in Québec City (Canada). Residents throughout all surgical specialties experienced important decreases in operating room time leading to diminished clinical exposure from the alterations of usual operations and changes of available humans and material resources. During spring of 2020, the university policy at our institution recommended that resident numbers in hospitals be minimized to reduce contact as required by public health recommendations (6). This unpreceded event required resident trainees and program directors to restructure the delivery of medical education. Many surgical curriculums have moved since then to complete online platforms to prevent gatherings (7). The impact of these modifications and repercussions is still ongoing. To learn more about how the pandemic is affecting resident training, we aim to utilize a survey to gain greater insight on resident perspectives regarding clinical teaching at our center.

Survey development and distribution

An anonymous 17-question multiple choice and short answer survey was developed using RedCaps, an online survey platform. All surgical residents training during spring 2020 at Laval University were invited to participate. Excluded residents were those on sick leave or partaking in time off clinical duties for research. A link to the survey was emailed to all 85 surgical specialty residents. The emails of residents were obtained through respective postgraduate medical education secretaries. Reminder emails to encourage participation were distributed weekly for a period of 4 weeks. The survey questions were developed and drafted in French. The questions were tested to ensure clarity and consistent interpretation with 4 junior residents who did not partake in final survey. The survey was then adjusted after incorporating feedback. Surveyed period occurred in February 2021. Prior to completing the survey, an informed consent was obtained. The survey questioned resident demographics, clinical teaching hours, appreciation of activities and novelties experienced as well as views of online teaching during the period of the first wave pandemic in spring 2020. Demographic information included clinical post graduate year (PGY), training program type and gender. Changes in clinical and operative activities during COVID period were assessed as well as estimated number of teaching hours before the studied period. Residents were asked to list their three most appreciated teaching activities as well as a least valued activity. Each listed activity was graded according to its listed position. Three points were given for first ranking activities, two for second and one for third position. Activities were grouped into categories. The categories included were: (1) formal teaching activities lead by staff surgeon, (2) teaching sessions lead by senior residents, (3) oral mock exams, (4) morbidity and mortality (M&M) rounds, (4) journal clubs, (5) ultrasound courses (6) tumor boards. They were also required to list any new activities developed by their program during this period. Finally, we assessed the residents’ opinions of online virtual teaching. The detailed survey is found in Appendix 1. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed to summarize the data.

Outcomes measured

The primary outcome was to determine which weekly activities were most appreciated by residents during this period and list new teaching activities/strategies that could be of interest to implement during times of pandemic. Secondary outcomes were to: (1) evaluate the impact of reduced clinical activities on teaching hours prior and during COVID-19 pandemic and (2) obtain the opinions of residents regarding virtual teaching.

Resident Information

Forty-eight surgical specialty residents completed the survey. Global participation was estimated at 56%. At least one respondent from each of the ten surgical programs at our institution participated in the survey. Most respondents were residents from general surgery (35%), obstetrics and gynecology (17%) and urology (13%). There was a relatively even distribution of respondents across PGY (between 8 and 12 respondents per year). The gender of respondents was equal (50%) within the group. Table 1 highlights the described demographics of respondents.

Table 1. Resident demographics (n = 48)
Q1. Current year of clinical training
PGY1	19%
PGY2	19%
PGY3	25%
PGY4	20%
PGY5-6	17%
Q2. Gender
Male	50%
Female	50%
Not specified	0%
Q3. Training program
Cardiac surgery	4%
General surgery	35%
Plastic surgery	4%
Orthopedic surgery	8%
Vascular surgery	2%
Obstetrics and Gynecology	17%
Neurosurgery	4%
Ophthalmology	2%
Oto-rhino-laryngology	11%
Urology	13%

Surgical training and teaching hours

Respondents answered with a majority of 92% a reduction of clinical and operative activities during the pandemic first wave. None noted an increase. The reminder 8% noted no change. Teaching activities were reported to have increased according to 38% of respondents while 20% experienced no change and 42% stated having experienced a decrease in teaching opportunities. When asked to estimate the weekly number of hours of teaching prior to the pandemic the mean number of reported hours was of 4.31 hours (SD 1.57). During the pandemic the mean dropped to 3.69 hours (SD 2.95). Residents were asked to include all formal or informal teaching activities when estimating the weekly teaching hours. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the differences between both time periods. Eleven respondents (23%) answered having received no clinical teaching during the pandemic first wave.

Activities and novelties

Respondents were asked to list their top three most appreciated teaching activities during the first wave. The final count established that the most appreciated activities were (1) formal teaching lectures lead by staff surgeon followed by (2) teaching activities lead by senior residents and (3) oral mock exams. The least appreciated activity was journal clubs. No new teaching activities other than a transition to online platforms were reported by respondents. Over 80% of respondents acknowledge that clinical teaching sessions should be obligatory time off clinical duties even during times of pandemic.

Virtual class appreciation

Over 80% of recorded teaching activities with this survey were reported being conducted online. The importance of social interactions during previously in person classes were considered important by all but 1 respondent. More than half of respondents reported learning opportunities to be limited with the use of online platforms. Most participants disagreed that online teaching sessions are more interactive than in person classes and disagreed that didactic online session are preferable to in person classes. When respondents were questioned if they ever partook in other activities at some time during an online class, only 15% responded “no”. Finally, respondents with a majority disagreed to the statement that the material taught during online classes are better retained than in person classes. A detailed breakdown of the results can be found in Table 2.

Table 2. Online teaching
Q12. Importance of social interaction during in person classes
Strongly agree	69%
Agree	29%
Neutral	2%
Disagree	0%
Strongly disagree	0%
Q13. Learning opportunities limited with the use of online platforms
Strongly agree	17%
Agree	41%
Neutral	23%
Disagree	17%
Strongly disagree	2%
Q14. Online teaching sessions are more interactive than in person classes
Strongly agree	0%
Agree	0%
Neutral	10%
Disagree	52%
Strongly disagree	18%
Q15 Didactic online sessions are preferable to live in person classes
Strongly agree	0%
Agree	0%
Neutral	30%
Disagree	45%
Strongly disagree	25%
Q16. Partook in other activities at some time during an online class
Yes, always	8%
Yes, occasionally	46%
Yes, rarely	31%
No	15%
Q17. Content of online classes are better retained than in person classes
Strongly agree	0%
Agree	2%
Neutral	25%
Disagree	48%
Strongly disagree	25%

This survey identified most valued teaching activities. It also assessed the effects of COVID-19 during the first wave on resident teaching hours. Finally, it gathered the opinions of residents with the use of online teaching. Many surgical curriculums are now completely online (8–9). The impact of this important change is ongoing. A United States National Survey of general surgery residents reported that over 30% of trainees noted a decrease of educational didactics during the pandemic while another survey conducted in West Scotland reported 75% of surveyed trainees not attending any teaching (9–10). The diminished teaching hours recorded at our institution during the first wave pandemic is thought to be attributable to important restructuring by programs. This period was marked by reduced staff availability, cancellation of case discussions, increased online departmental meetings and cancellations of conferences all to respect social distancing measures. This possibly explains the diminished mean number of teaching hours and increased standard deviation. Interestingly other institutions managed to rapidly develop during the same pandemic period a schedule that addressed the increasing loss of teaching hours and some managed to double teaching hours (8–11). The COVID-19 pandemic illustrates the importance that programs must be prepared and have educational contingency plans readily available if similar events are to occur. Novelties in medical education have emerged during this time. However, none were reported with our survey. We suppose that the transition and adjustment to the online platforms may have blunted the implementation of additional new academic activities. However, the literature does state certain novelties with regards to medical education strategies. A systemic review by Dedeillia and al. reports that programs having adopted a “flipped classroom” and active learning facilitated the transition to online formats (12). Although described for preclinical setting, with proper residency level learning objectives, such activities could be implemented and could lead to greater interactions. This systematic review also lists the use of online atlases, podcast and social media as means to optimize clinical teaching. Other novelties to minimize viral transmission all while acquiring new surgical skills is the use practice surgical kits (13). Some programs have also implemented usage of live camera footage in operating rooms to palliate the limited number of trainees within surgical theaters (14). The top three listed activities by our group of residents have a common characteristic. They have the possibility of being interactive and can result in active discussions between the professor and the trainee. Our survey shows that these interactions are appreciated by trainees and possibly lacking with virtual classes. The diminished exchanges may explain why residents are possibly partaking in other activities while an online activity is ongoing. This may also be one of many factors explaining why residents report diminished retainment of teachings. However, other studies are needed to validate these proposed associations.

Limitations

Our study has limitations related to survey-based studies. Firstly, even though the survey link was emailed weekly for a month the response rate of 56% of our small population of 85 residents is considered low. Small sample sizes are common in surgical research. This resulted in a descriptive analysis. In attempt to minimize this effect we included participants from all surgical specialties at our institution. The high volume of emails sent through the university email system during this period might have dissuaded certain residents to participate. Also, the lower responses from the PGY5&6 group might be due to email not reaching these ex-residents. To complete the survey the ex-trainees were required to still be using and monitoring their university email during the time. The limited number of responses did not allow us to perform sub-categorical comparisons. A selection bias may also have resulted from the fact that this survey was on voluntary participation and may have overrepresented participants with strong opinions pertaining to teaching during this period. Resident reported teaching hours may also be biased by possible distorted recollection. Finally, this survey is limited by the fact that it is monocentric and is illustrates views of an urban setting. It may not exemplify the experiences of rural programs nationwide. Despite some limitation our hope is that our study improves the understanding of surgical education and stimulate further discussion to improve resident education.

The coronavirus 2019 pandemic has prompted unparalleled changes to healthcare as well as the methods in which we are training surgeons of tomorrow. The data presented can provide insight of residents needs to surgical programs to improve training. When a pandemic occurs, surgical programs must be ready optimize teaching schedules to minimize lost teaching hours. Even though the appreciation of virtual learning seems unsatisfactory by residents, trainees still require and appreciate teaching by their mentors and coworker, may it be in person or on a computer screen. Future studies will be needed to assess the impact theses educational changes on long-term trainee performance.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

A statement explaining the purpose of the survey was defined prior to it. It was specified that gathered data would be deidentified when results be presented and that only the two main investigators would have access to responses. There was absence of incentives or disincentives to participate. The study was deemed exempt by the ethics committee at the Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec -Université Laval (CRCHU) after protocol review.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Consent for publication

Not applicable

Funding
The authors declare that they have received no funding.

Authors' contributions

ND analysed data, wrote manuscript, designed tables and figures. EAD analysed data and reviewed the final manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgements

Main author would like to thank Dr. Felix Pageau for help and guidance in the elaboration of following project

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Nassar AH, Zern NK, McIntyre LK, Lynge D, Smith CA, Petersen RP, et al. Emergency Restructuring of a General Surgery Residency Program During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: The University of Washington Experience. JAMA Surg. 2020;155(7):624–7.
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No competing interests reported.

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Download PDF

Journal Publication

published 31 Dec, 2021

Read the published version in Journal of Surgery and Research →

Version 1

posted

You are reading this latest preprint version

The Impact of COVID-19 on Surgical Education: A Monocentric Survey of Residents Training in Surgical Specialties

Status:

Journal Publication

Version 1

Abstract

Figures

Background

Methods

Survey development and distribution

Outcomes measured

Results

Resident Information

Surgical training and teaching hours

Activities and novelties

Virtual class appreciation

Discussion

Limitations

Conclusion

Declarations

ND analysed data, wrote manuscript, designed tables and figures. EAD analysed data and reviewed the final manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

References

Additional Declarations

Supplementary Files

Status:

Journal Publication

Version 1