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. 2020 Sep:143:62-67.
doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2020.05.051. Epub 2020 Jun 6.

Perceived Impact of Urologic Surgery Training Program Modifications due to COVID-19 in the United States

Katherine E Fero  1 , James M Weinberger  2 , Steven Lerman  2 , Jonathan Bergman  3
Affiliations

Perceived Impact of Urologic Surgery Training Program Modifications due to COVID-19 in the United States

Katherine E Fero et al. Urology. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: To assess urology residency program modifications in the context of COVID-19, and perceptions of the impact on urology trainees.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of program leadership and residents at accredited US urology residencies was administered between April 28, 2020 to March 11, 2020. Total cohort responses are reported, and subanalyses were preformed comparing responses between those in in high vs low COVID-19 geographic regions, and between program leaders vs residents.

Results: Program leaders from 43% of programs and residents from 18% of programs responded. Respondents reported decreased surgical volume (83%-100% varying by subspecialty), increased use of telehealth (99%), a transition to virtual educational platforms (95%) and decreased size of inpatient resident teams (90%). Most residents are participating in care of COVID-19 patients (83%) and 20% endorsed that urology residents have been re-deployed. Seventy nine percent of respondents perceive a negative impact of recent events on urology surgery training and anxiety regarding competency upon completion of residency training was more pronounced among respondents in high COVID-19 regions.

Conclusion: Major modifications to urology training programs were implemented in response to COVID-19. Attention must be paid to the downstream effects of the training disruption on urology residents.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Survey respondent program locations on United States (lower 48) heat-map of COVID-19 per-capita cases (state level). (Figure created with Tableau 9.1, Seattle, Washington). COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019. (Color version available online.)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Reported change in surgical volume by subspecialty, stratified by cohort (total cohort, low COVID-19 region, high COVID-19 region). There was a significant difference between groups with respect to emergency surgical volume. (*P = .01). Endo, endourology; Recon, reconstructive urology. COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019. (Color version available online.)
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