Analysis of the Impact on Surgical Residency Programs in Times of Pandemic in Argentina

January 7, 2021 updated by: Palacios Huatuco, Clinica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Universidad Catolica de Cordoba

Analysis of the Impact on Surgical Residency Programs in Times of Pandemic in Argentina: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: COVID-19 emerged as a global pandemic in 2020 and affected teaching methods at all levels. Surgical education has also been significantly affected by this pandemic, but the effect remains unknown. We developed a survey with the aim of obtaining more information on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the training and education of surgical residency programs in Argentina.

Material and methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study. We surveyed 195 resident physicians from various surgical residency programs, from August 15 to September 30, 2020, in Córdoba, Argentina. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical training, academic program, and professional burnout of residents was analyzed.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Introduction In 2020, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has affected more than 190 countries, registering more than 79.2 million cases and more than 1.7 million deaths worldwide since the start of the pandemic. The first reported case in Argentina was on March 5; two days later, the first fatality was registered in the country and in Latin America. On March 6, the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Córdoba, the second most populated province, out of a total of 23 provinces that make up the Argentine Republic. Until December 31, 2020, the Ministry of Health of the Province of Córdoba registered a total of 126,893 cases and 2,496 deaths from COVID-19.

The current health crisis produced by the coronavirus pandemic and defined as an unprecedented situation led us to raise doubts, controversies, and dilemmas in health care in general, and in surgery in particular, understanding that residents are possibly so vulnerable or more than all professionals.

In this scenario, the Association of Residents and Concurrents of General Surgery of Córdoba (ARCCC), which represents a non-profit civil association, founded in 1989, with the purpose of promoting scientific activity among resident physicians, prepared a survey with the objective of obtaining more information on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the training and education of surgical residency programs in Córdoba.

Material and methods A cross-sectional study was carried out, supported by a digital survey tool (Google Forms). The survey presented 25 mandatory multiple-choice questions and was distributed through social networks such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, from August 15 to September 30, 2020. All surgical residency programs in Córdoba, Argentina were invited to participate.

The survey asked the demographic characteristics of the residents, the type of hospital (public / private / Armed Forces) where they worked, the adherence of the training center to the resolution of the Ministry of Health 718/2020 (extension of discharge and promotion of the academic year of residents until September 30, 2020, within the health services, to attend the health and social emergency produced by COVID-19) (6), the type and the year (Considering the National Decree 718/2020) of the training program, work modality, number of days of attendance at your institution and surgical practices, before and during the pandemic. Residents were asked whether these changes would affect their surgical training and overall preparation for their next career move. The effects of the pandemic on the well-being and burnout of residents were also assessed.

All respondents voluntarily participated in this study and were advised that the information provided is confidential and will not be used to identify individual responses.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

195

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Argentina
      • Córdoba, Argentina, 5000
        • René M. Palacios Huatuco

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

20 years to 30 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

195 respondents

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • medical residents
  • both sexes (woman and man)
  • residencies with surgical programs

Exclusion Criteria:

  • residencies with medical clinic programs

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Demographic variables
Time Frame: August 15 to September 30, 2020
gender and age
August 15 to September 30, 2020
type of hospital
Time Frame: August 15 to September 30, 2020
public / private / Armed Forces
August 15 to September 30, 2020
type and year of training program
Time Frame: August 15 to September 30, 2020
surgical program and position in residence
August 15 to September 30, 2020
attendance at your institution and surgical practices
Time Frame: August 15 to September 30, 2020
days and number of surgeries
August 15 to September 30, 2020

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Clinica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Universidad Catolica de Cordoba

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 15, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

October 1, 2020

Study Completion (Actual)

January 3, 2021

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 7, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 7, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

January 11, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 11, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 7, 2021

Last Verified

January 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 0817040

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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