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

Sponsor

Clinica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Universidad Catolica de Cordoba (Other)

Overall Status

Completed

CT.gov ID

NCT04703400

Collaborator

(none)

195

Enrollment

Location

4.6

Actual Duration (Months)

42.1

Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

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.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Surgical Education	Other: anonymous survey

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 Design

Study Type:

Observational

Actual Enrollment :

195 participants

Observational Model:

Cohort

Time Perspective:

Retrospective

Official Title:

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

Actual Study Start Date :

Aug 15, 2020

Actual Primary Completion Date :

Oct 1, 2020

Actual Study Completion Date :

Jan 3, 2021

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

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

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

20 Years to 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Inclusion Criteria:

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

Exclusion Criteria:

residencies with medical clinic programs

Contacts and Locations

Locations

	Site	City	State	Country	Postal Code
1	René M. Palacios Huatuco	Córdoba		Argentina	5000

Sponsors and Collaborators

Clinica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Universidad Catolica de Cordoba

Investigators

None specified.

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

Responsible Party:

Palacios Huatuco, General Surgeon, Clinica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Universidad Catolica de Cordoba

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:

NCT04703400

Other Study ID Numbers:

0817040

First Posted:

Jan 11, 2021

Last Update Posted:

Jan 11, 2021

Last Verified:

Jan 1, 2021

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:

Keywords provided by Palacios Huatuco, General Surgeon, Clinica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Universidad Catolica de Cordoba

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Jan 11, 2021