Introduction
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant decrease in
clinical activities, reduction of elective surgeries, and restriction of
workforce to essential personnel in hospitals nationwide including among
Otolaryngology departments.1 Otolaryngology programs
have faced significant reductions in surgical case volume to conserve
resources, with many institutions limiting trainee
coverage.2-4 In addition, some trainees have been
redeployed to practice outside of their specialty to meet the rising
need for COVID-19 related medical care.5 As these
parameters only begin to ease, their impact on education and
specifically surgical training is limited,6,7 and
questions have been raised as to whether surgical training will need to
be extended to ensure adequacy.6,8
In Otolaryngology, concerns regarding reduction in surgical and
specialty-specific clinical training are layered with concerns regarding
personal safety and protection. Among healthcare providers,
otolaryngologists have been reported as among the highest risk for
exposure and infection due to close contact with mucous membranes that
may contain high viral load9,10 and performance of
high risk procedures such as mucosal surgery and
tracheostomy.11
In the setting of social distancing, didactic teaching sessions have
moved to virtual classroom and lecture models.8,12Models of online education, such as the Global On-Line Fellowship
program, have shown the potential efficacy of remote learning within
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.13 In addition to
changes in clinical experiences, national gatherings that contribute to
trainee education and career advancement including national conferences,
oral board examinations, and accreditation testing have been either
postponed or cancelled.6,8 Lastly, some trainees are
preparing to begin their careers at a time of uncertainty both for the
healthcare system and the economy.
A recent resident survey during the COVID-19 area showed that 73%
residents continue to feel concerned about contracting the virus and its
impact on their training.4 To further explore the
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Otolaryngology trainee education and
impact on future career, we performed a survey of Otolaryngology
residents and fellows in the United States (US) and Canada regarding
educational experiences, use of technology and related concerns
surrounding safety and future career during the COVID-19 pandemic.