Urology Residency Training During the Pandemic: A Review of the Current Literature

Background Since COVID–19 was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, health care systems worldwide have been under significant strain. Although urology is not on the frontline of care for patients with COVID-19, every practicing urologist has been affected by the global outbreak. The objective of this review is to evaluate the impact of COVID–19 pandemic on urology residency training programs. Methods We reviewed the current evidence on urology residency training during the COVID-19 pandemic. Relevant databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Library) were searched for articles published to June 2021 that included residents’ or directors’ opinions on their residency training programs during the COVID-19 crisis. Results The literature search identified 72 articles. Fifteen studies including more than 2500 residents were eligible for inclusion in the analysis. During the pandemic, learning activities carried out by urology residents have been extensively affected. Worldwide, operation volume has decreased, especially for procedures in which residents were directly involved. Similarly, there has been a decline in most academic activities, and many studies have reported the negative impact on residents’ mental well-being and lifestyle. On the other hand, the lockdown provided an opportunity to review the current training system and to increase the implementation of tools such as telemedicine and smart-learning surgical skill training programs. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant changes in urology residency programs worldwide, which have had a negative impact on surgical training and academic activities. Residents’ well-being and mental health have also been put at risk. However, this unprecedented situation has also generated new online learning modalities and technological innovations in the field of training in urology.

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Insights on Otolaryngology Residency Training during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1177/0194599820922502 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 163 (1) ◽

pp. 38-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Dana L. Crosby ◽

Arun Sharma

Keyword(s):

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Learning Strategies ◽

Residency Training ◽

Resident Education ◽

Training Programs ◽

Well Being ◽

Office Visits ◽

Key Indicator ◽

Medical Crisis ◽

The Impact

Otolaryngology residency training programs are facing a novel challenge due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The widespread impact and chronicity of this pandemic makes it unique from any crisis faced by our training programs to date. This international medical crisis has the potential to significantly alter the course of training for our current resident cohort. The decrease in clinical opportunities due to the limitations on elective surgical cases and office visits as well as potential resident redeployment could lead to a decline in overall experience as well as key indicator cases. It is important that we closely monitor the impact of this pandemic on resident education and ensure the implementation of alternative learning strategies while maintaining an emphasis on safety and well-being.

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychosocial condition of students in Poland and Ukraine

10.31234/osf.io/wz8s7 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Piotr Długosz ◽

Yana

Keyword(s):

Distance Learning ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Survey Method ◽

Psychosocial Condition ◽

On Line ◽

Line Survey ◽

The Impact ◽

Emotional Condition ◽

Double Measurement

The article presents the results of research on psychosocial condition among Polish and Ukrainian students during the quarantine. The aim of the research was to verify the impact of the pandemic and its accompanying phenomena on the well-being of youth. In order to achieve this goal, the CAWI on-line survey method with double measurement was used. The first measurement carried out at the beginning of the quarantine resulted in 3659 filled out surveys in Poland and 739 in Ukraine. The second measurement conducted at the end of distance learning brought 1978 filled out surveys in Poland and 411 in Ukraine. The results of research indicate that the quarantine had a negative impact on the psychosocial condition of youth. The deterioration of emotional condition and the increase in mental disorders has been observed. Due to the pandemic and distance learning, the mental health of youth deteriorated significantly. Polish youth were negatively influenced by the pandemic to a greater extent than young Ukrainians.

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A Canadian Perspective of simulation-based skill attainment in Internal Medicine Residency (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.12260 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Tamer Abdel Moaein ◽

Chirsty Tompkins ◽

Natalie Bandrauk ◽

Heidi Coombs-Thorne

Keyword(s):

Internal Medicine ◽

Residency Training ◽

Training Programs ◽

Skill Training ◽

Skills Training ◽

Skill Learning ◽

Comfort Level ◽

Procedural Skills ◽

Internal Medicine Training ◽

Simulation Based

BACKGROUND Clinical simulation is defined as “a technique to replace or amplify real experiences with guided experiences, often immersive in nature, that evoke or replicate substantial aspects of the real world in a fully interactive fashion”. In medicine, its advantages include repeatability, a nonthreatening environment, absence of the need to intervene for patient safety issues during critical events, thus minimizing ethical concerns and promotion of self-reflection with facilitation of feedback [1] Apparently, simulation based education is a standard tool for introducing procedural skills in residency training [3]. However, while performance is clearly enhanced in the simulated setting, there is little information available on the translation of these skills to the actual patient care environment (transferability) and the retention rates of skills acquired in simulation-based training [1]. There has been significant interest in using simulation for both learning and assessment [2]. As Canadian internal medicine training programs are moving towards assessing entrustable professional activities (EPA), simulation will become imperative for training, assessment and identifying opportunities for improvement [4, 5]. Hence, it is crucial to assess the current state of skill learning, acquisition and retention in Canadian IM residency training programs. Also, identifying any challenges to consolidating these skills. We hope the results of this survey would provide material that would help in implementing an effective and targeted simulation-based skill training (skill mastery). OBJECTIVE 1. Appraise the status and impact of existing simulation training on procedural skill performance 2. Identify factors that might interfere with skill acquisition, consolidation and transferability METHODS An electronic bilingual web-based survey; Fluid survey platform utilized, was designed (Appendix 1). It consists of a mix of closed-ended, open-ended and check list questions to examine the attitudes, perceptions, experiences and feedback of internal medicine (IM) residents. The survey has been piloted locally with a sample of five residents. After making any necessary corrections, it will be distributed via e-mail to the program directors of all Canadian IM residency training programs, then to all residents registered in each program. Two follow up reminder e-mails will be sent to all participating institutions. Participation will be voluntarily and to keep anonymity, there will be no direct contact with residents and survey data will be summarized in an aggregate form. SPSS Software will be used for data analysis, and results will be shared with all participating institutions. The survey results will be used for display and presentation purposes during medical conferences and forums and might be submitted for publication. All data will be stored within the office of internal medicine program at Memorial University for a period of five years. Approval of Local Research Ethics board (HREB) at Memorial University has been obtained. RESULTS Pilot Results Residents confirmed having simulation-based training for many of the core clinical skills, although some gaps persist There was some concern regarding the number of sim sessions, lack of clinical opportunities, competition by other services and lack of bed side supervision Some residents used internet video to fill their training gaps and/or increase their skill comfort level before performing clinical procedure Resident feedback included desire for more corrective feedback, and more sim sessions per skill (Average 2-4 sessions) CONCLUSIONS This study is anticipated to provide data on current practices for skill development in Canadian IM residency training programs. Information gathered will be used to foster a discourse between training programs including discussion of barriers, sharing of solutions and proposing recommendations for optimal use of simulation in the continuum of procedural skills training.

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The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on training and mental health of residents: a cross-sectional study

BMC Medical Education ◽

10.1186/s12909-021-02655-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Eman Alshdaifat ◽

Amer Sindiani ◽

Wasim Khasawneh ◽

Omar Abu-Azzam ◽

Aref Qarqash ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Residency Training ◽

Training Programs ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Surgical Residents ◽

Tertiary Center ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Residency programs have been impacted by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this study we aim to investigate and evaluate the impact of the pandemic on residents as well as residency training programs. Methods This was a cross-sectional study including a survey of 43 questions prepared on Google forms and electronically distributed among a convenience sample of residents training at a tertiary center in North Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected in the period between October 30th and November 8th of 2020. The survey included questions that addressed the impact of the pandemic on residents’ health as well as training programs. The study participants included residents in training at KAUH in 2020 and were stratified according to the type of residency program (surgical residents (SRs) and non-surgical residents (NSRs)). Statistical methods included descriptive analysis, Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test, Mann Whitney U test, and Cramer’s V and r statistics as measures of effect sizes. Results Of all 430 residents, 255 (59%) responded to the survey. A total of 17 (7%) of residents reported being infected with COVID-19 and a significant difference was reported between SRs and NSRs (10% vs 4%, V = .124 “small effect” (95% CI; .017–.229), p = 0.048). Approximately, 106 (42%) reported a decrease in the number of staff working at the clinic and 164 (64%) reported limited access to personal protective equipment during the pandemic. On a 4-point Likert scale for the feeling of anxiety, the median was 2 (2–3 IQR) in the NSRs group, vs 2 (1–2 IQR) in the SRs groups, with the NSRs being more likely to feel anxious (r = 0.13 “small effect” (95% CI; 0.007–0.249), p = .044). Similarly, the proportion of residents who reported feeling anxious about an inadequacy of protective equipment in the work area was significantly greater in the NSRs group (90.3% vs 75.2%; V = .201 “small effect” (95% CI; .078–.313), p = .001), as well as the proportion of residents who reported feeling increased stress and anxiety between colleagues being also significantly higher in the NSRs group (88.1% vs 76%; V = .158 “small effect” (95% CI; .032–.279), p = .012). Conclusion The burden of the ongoing pandemic on the mental health status of residents is very alarming and so providing residents with psychological counseling and support is needed. Also, critical implications on the flow of residency training programs have been noticed. This necessitates adapting and adopting smart educational techniques to compensate for such limitations.

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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Working Conditions, Employment, Career Development and Well-Being of Refugee Researchers

Societies ◽

10.3390/soc11030071 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 71

Author(s):

Ourania Tzoraki ◽

Svetlana Dimitrova ◽

Marin Barzakov ◽

Saad Yaseen ◽

Vasilis Gavalas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Appropriate Technology ◽

Public Authorities ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Home Setting ◽

The Public ◽

Work From Home ◽

The Impact

The ongoing ‘refugee crisis’ of the past years has led to the migration of refugee researchers (RRs) to European countries. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, RRs often had to work from home and/or to continue their social, cultural and economic integration process under new conditions. An online survey carried out to explore the impact of the pandemic on the refugee researchers showed that RRs found it difficult to adapt their everyday working life to the ‘home’ setting. The majority have had neither a suitable work environment at home nor the appropriate technology. Although they stated that they are rather pleased with the measures taken by the public authorities, they expressed concern about their vulnerability due to their precarious contracts and the bureaucratic asylum procedures, as the pandemic has had a negative impact on these major issues. The majority of RRs working in academia seem not to have been affected at all as far as their income is concerned, while the majority of those employed in other sectors became unemployed during the pandemic (58%). Recommendations are provided to the public authorities and policy makers to assist RRs to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic on their life.

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COVID-19 Pandemic and Quality of Life among Romanian Athletes

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18084065 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 4065

Author(s):

Germina-Alina Cosma ◽

Alina Chiracu ◽

Amalia Raluca Stepan ◽

Marian Alexandru Cosma ◽

Marian Costin Nanu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Trait Anxiety ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Quality Of Life Scale ◽

Life Scale ◽

Personality Item ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

The aim of this study was to analyze athletes’ quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved 249 athletes between 15 and 35 of age, M = 21.22, SD = 5.12. The sample was composed of eight Olympic Games medalists, three European medalists, 67 international medalists, and 63 national medalists. The instruments used were: (1) COVID-19 Anxiety Scale, (2) Athlete Quality of Life Scale, (3) Impact of Pandemic on Athletes Questionnaire, and (4) International Personality Item Pool (IPIP Anxiety, Depression, and Vulnerability Scales). The results indicate significant differences in COVID-19 anxiety depending on the sport practiced, F (9239) = 3.81, p < 0.01, showing that there were significant differences between sports. The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic mediates the relationship between trait anxiety and the athletes’ quality of life. The percentage of mediation was 33.9%, and the indirect effect was −0.11, CI 95% (−0.18, −0.03), Z = −2.82, p < 0.01. Trait anxiety has an increasing effect on the intensity of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 0.23, CI 95% (.10, 0.35), Z = 3.56, p < 0.01, and the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has a decreasing effect on quality of life, −0.47, CI 95% (−0.67, −0.27), Z = −4.62, p < 0.01. Gender and age did not moderate the relationship between the negative impact of COVID-19 and athletes’ quality of life. The results of the study highlighted the impact that social isolation and quarantine have on athletes’ affective well-being.

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Red tape and psychological capital: a counterbalancing act for professionals in street-level bureaucracies

Journal of Professions and Organization ◽

10.1093/jpo/joaa024 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

A Dudau ◽

G Kominis ◽

Y Brunetto

Keyword(s):

Local Government ◽

Organizational Behavior ◽

Psychological Capital ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Practical Implication ◽

Well Being ◽

Government Employees ◽

Street Level ◽

Red Tape ◽

The Impact

Abstract Assuming that red tape is inevitable in institutions, and drawing on positive organizational behavior, we compare the impact of individual psychological capital on the ability of street-level bureaucrats (SLBs) with different professional backgrounds to work within the confines of red tape. The two SLB professions investigated here are nurses and local government employees; and the work outcomes of interest to this study are well-being and engagement. The findings show that red tape has a different impact on each professional group but, encouragingly, they also indicate that psychological capital has a compensatory effect. Implications include nurses requiring more psychological resources than local government employees to counteract the negative impact of red tape. A practical implication for managers is that, if perception of red tape in organizations is set to increase or to stay constant, enhancing the psychological capital of professionals in SLB roles, through specific interventions, may be beneficial to professionals and organizations alike.

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Impact of COVID-19 on the Health and Well-being of Informal Caregivers of People with Dementia: A Rapid Systematic Review

Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine ◽

10.1177/23337214211020164 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 233372142110201

Author(s):

M. Courtney Hughes ◽

Yujun Liu ◽

Abby Baumbach

Keyword(s):

Negative Impact ◽

Living Arrangement ◽

Informal Caregivers ◽

Well Being ◽

Rapid Review ◽

People With Dementia ◽

Psychosocial Resilience ◽

Quantitative Descriptive ◽

The Impact ◽

Health And Well Being

Background: In December 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), or COVID-19, raised worldwide concern. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively influenced health and wellness across the globe and caused nearly three million deaths. This study focuses on informal caregivers of people with dementia, a disease that affects about 50 million older adults worldwide and requires much caregiving support. Objective: Examine the current literature on the impact of COVID-19 on the health and well-being of informal caregivers for people with dementia. Method: This rapid review was conducted across five electronic databases for quantitative and qualitative articles published through March 15, 2021. Results: The 10 studies included in this review reported quantitative descriptive data from across the globe; however, no studies existed from the U.S. or East Asia countries. All of the studies examined the psychological rather than physical impact of COVID-19 and highlighted risk and protective factors in the areas of psychosocial (resilience, neuropsychiatric, and social isolation), sociodemographic (gender and education), and environmental (home confinement, living arrangement, and dementia stage). Conclusion: COVID-19 has had a considerable negative impact on the psychological well-being of informal caregivers of people with dementia, namely causing more depression and anxiety than pre-pandemic.

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The Psychological and Financial Impact of Cybercrime Victimization: A Novel Application of the Shattered Assumptions Theory

Social Science Computer Review ◽

10.1177/0894439320983828 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089443932098382

Author(s):

Jildau Borwell ◽

Jurjen Jansen ◽

Wouter Stol

Keyword(s):

Negative Impact ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Well Being ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Financial Impact ◽

Financial Loss ◽

Data Set ◽

Loss Compensation ◽

Shattered Assumptions ◽

The Impact

While criminality is digitizing, a theory-based understanding of the impact of cybercrime on victims is lacking. Therefore, this study addresses the psychological and financial impact of cybercrime on victims, applying the shattered assumptions theory (SAT) to predict that impact. A secondary analysis was performed on a representative data set of Dutch citizens ( N = 33,702), exploring the psychological and financial impact for different groups of cybercrime victims. The results showed a higher negative impact on emotional well-being for victims of person-centered cybercrime, victims for whom the offender was an acquaintance, and victims whose financial loss was not compensated and a lower negative impact on emotional well-being for victims with a higher income. The study led to novel scientific insights and showed the applicability of the SAT for developing hypotheses about cybercrime victimization impact. In this study, most hypotheses had to be rejected, leading to the conclusion that more work has to be done to test the applicability of the SAT in the field of cybercrime. Furthermore, policy implications were identified considering the prioritization of and approach to specific cybercrimes, treatment of victims, and financial loss compensation.

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Putative neural consequences of captivity for elephants and cetaceans

Reviews in the Neurosciences ◽

10.1515/revneuro-2021-0100 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Bob Jacobs ◽

Heather Rally ◽

Catherine Doyle ◽

Lester O’Brien ◽

Mackenzie Tennison ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Basal Ganglia ◽

Behavioral Health ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Present Review ◽

Large Mammals ◽

Impoverished Environment ◽

Neural Underpinnings ◽

The Impact ◽

The Brain

Abstract The present review assesses the potential neural impact of impoverished, captive environments on large-brained mammals, with a focus on elephants and cetaceans. These species share several characteristics, including being large, wide-ranging, long-lived, cognitively sophisticated, highly social, and large-brained mammals. Although the impact of the captive environment on physical and behavioral health has been well-documented, relatively little attention has been paid to the brain itself. Here, we explore the potential neural consequences of living in captive environments, with a focus on three levels: (1) The effects of environmental impoverishment/enrichment on the brain, emphasizing the negative neural consequences of the captive/impoverished environment; (2) the neural consequences of stress on the brain, with an emphasis on corticolimbic structures; and (3) the neural underpinnings of stereotypies, often observed in captive animals, underscoring dysregulation of the basal ganglia and associated circuitry. To this end, we provide a substantive hypothesis about the negative impact of captivity on the brains of large mammals (e.g., cetaceans and elephants) and how these neural consequences are related to documented evidence for compromised physical and psychological well-being.

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