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. 2021 Aug 27;38(Suppl 1):i9-i15.
doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmab012.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family medicine residency training

Nida S Awadallah  1   2 , Angela S Czaja  3 , Tyra Fainstad  4 , Monica C McNulty  5 , Kshama R Jaiswal  6 , Teresa S Jones  2   6 , Carol M Rumack  2   7
Affiliations

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family medicine residency training

Nida S Awadallah et al. Fam Pract. .

Abstract

Background: Family physicians have played a unique clinical role during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized that the pandemic would be associated with significant deleterious effects on clinical activity, educational training, personal safety and well-being.

Objective: We conducted a national survey to obtain preliminary data that would assist in future targeted data collection and subsequent evaluation of the impact of the pandemic on family medicine residents and teaching faculty.

Methods: An anonymous online survey of residents and faculty was distributed via the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors list serve between 5/21/2020 and 6/18/2020. Survey questions focused on clinical and educational activities, safety and well-being.

Results: One hundred and fifty-three residents and 151 teaching faculty participated in the survey. Decreased clinical activity was noted by 81.5% of residents and 80.9% of faculty and the majority began conducting telehealth visits (97.9% of residents, 91.0% of faculty). Distance learning platforms were used by all residents (100%) and 39.6% noted an overall positive impact on their education. Higher levels of burnout did not significantly correlate with reassignment of clinical duties (residents P = 0.164; faculty P = 0.064). Residents who showed significantly higher burnout scores (P = 0.035) and a decline in levels of well-being (P = 0.031) were more likely to participate in institutional well-being support activities.

Conclusions: Our preliminary data indicate that family medicine residents and teaching faculty were profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Future studies can be directed by current findings with focus on mitigation factors in addressing globally disruptive events such as COVID-19.

Keywords: Academic medicine; graduate medical education; mental health; primary care; telemedicine; work-related stress.

Plain language summary

Family physicians have played a unique clinical role during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized that the pandemic would be associated with significant deleterious effects on clinical activity, educational training, personal safety and well-being. Towards setting a foundation for further studies, we conducted a national survey to obtain preliminary data that would assist in future targeted data collection and subsequent evaluation of the impact of the pandemic on family medicine residents and teaching faculty. Our preliminary data indicate that family medicine residents and teaching faculty were profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in all domains studied. Future studies can be directed by current findings with focus on mitigation factors in addressing globally disruptive events such as COVID-19.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Perceptions around institution-provided PPE in 38 surveyed family medicine physicians and residents who felt unsafe during the initial pandemic surge (2020).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Top stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic in 288 surveyed family medicine physicians and residents during the initial pandemic surge (2020).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
(a) Top coping strategies during the initial COVID-19 pandemic surge in 288 surveyed family medicine physicians and residents (2020). (b) Top institutional provided well-being support services in 51 family physicians and residents who perceived the services as helpful (2020).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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