Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Breast Imaging Education

Abstract

Objective: To determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast imaging education.

Methods: A 22-item survey addressing four themes during the early pandemic (time on service, structured education, clinical training, future plans) was emailed to Society of Breast Imaging members and members-in-training in July 2020. Responses were compared using McNemar's and Mann-Whitney U tests; a general linear model was used for multivariate analysis.

Results: Of 136 responses (136/2824, 4.8%), 96 U.S. responses from radiologists with trainees, residents, and fellows were included. Clinical exposure declined during the early pandemic, with almost no medical students on service (66/67, 99%) and fewer clinical days for residents (78/89, 88%) and fellows (48/68, 71%). Conferences shifted to remote live format (57/78, 73%), with some canceled (15/78, 19%). Compared to pre-pandemic, resident diagnostic (75/78, 96% vs 26/78, 33%) (P < 0.001) and procedural (73/78, 94% vs 21/78, 27%) (P < 0.001) participation fell, as did fellow diagnostic (60/61, 98% vs 47/61, 77%) (P = 0.001) and procedural (60/61, 98% vs 43/61, 70%) (P < 0.001) participation. Most thought that the pandemic negatively influenced resident and fellow screening (64/77, 83% and 43/60, 72%, respectively), diagnostic (66/77, 86% and 37/60, 62%), and procedural (71/77, 92% and 37/61, 61%) education. However, a majority thought that decreased time on service (36/67, 54%) and patient contact (46/79, 58%) would not change residents' pursuit of a breast imaging fellowship.

Conclusion: The pandemic has had a largely negative impact on breast imaging education, with reduction in exposure to all aspects of breast imaging. However, this may not affect career decisions.

Keywords: COVID-19; breast imaging; education; mammography.

Figure 1.

Percent of respondents reporting that residents (A) and fellows (B) actively participate in diagnostic studies and interventional procedures at baseline pre-pandemic, during the shutdown or the height of the pandemic, and after reopening or flattening of the infection curve (n = 78 for residents, n = 61 for fellows).

Figure 2.

Response to the survey question, “How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the education of residents regarding screening studies, diagnostic studies, and interventional procedures?” (n = 77).

Figure 3.

Response to the survey question, “How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the education of fellows regarding screening studies, diagnostic studies, and interventional procedures?” (n = 60 for screening and diagnostic studies, n = 61 for procedures).

Figure 4.

Response to the survey question, “How do you think the decreased time on the breast imaging clinical service during the COVID-19 pandemic will impact residents’ decisions to pursue a breast imaging fellowship?” (n = 67).

Figure 5.

Response to the survey question, “How do you think patient contact in breast imaging (compared to other radiology specialties) will impact residents’ decisions to pursue a breast imaging fellowship in light of the COVID-19 pandemic?” (n = 79).