Challenges and Adaptation in Otorhinolaryngology Practice During Pandemic Lockdown: Experience from a Malaysian COVID-19 Hospital

Abstract

COVID-19 has taken the world by storm: since the first few cases appeared in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and by June 2020 there were more than 10 million cases of COVID-19 cases worldwide. Malaysia had its first case in January 2020 and acted promptly by implementing several drastic measures to contain the disease. Subsequently, the Ministry of Health Malaysia has implemented guidelines and recommendations on the management of COVID-19. The Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ORL-HNS) provides services for patients with ear, nose, throat, head and neck diseases and provides audiology, speech and language therapy, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate training. As the department’s staff is heavily involved in examinations and interventions of upper aerodigestive tract problems, the challenges are distinctly different from other specialties. This article discusses how COVID-19 affected ORL-HNS services and what measures were taken in Hospital Melaka, Malaysia.

Otolaryngology specialty choice among the 4th year MBBS students

“…The experience of the specialty is gained when the graduates are working in the hospital during their house job period or during the internships. However, this time span is the golden period for graduates to target their career choice as they are given opportunity to deal with patients from various specialities 9 .…”

“…However, the uncertain group including 40% of individual indicates that they require more time and exposure to inclined their mind to a specific speciality 18 . The decision of students to decide any career depends upon the residents who are getting training in the wards 9 . The clinical rotations and the internships broaden the horizon of the students and help them to communicate with different professionals to make choice regarding their career decision 19 .…”

“…In a study, it is demonstrated that the medical students have low confidence in managing the patients due to inadequate clinical exposure as compared to the trainee residents are much more confident to managing the patients due to the vast involvement and regular sufficient time given to them [9][10][11] . Recently, in Pakistan it has been observed a steady decrease in the otorhinolaryngology as being opted as the field of specialization of graduating students because of exit examination being taught in the 4th year instead of the final year.…”

The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Obstetrics & Gynaecology Specialist Training in Malaysia: Perception of Clinical Postgraduate Students

“…Non-COVID clinic appointments had been reduced and outpatient referral had been postponed except for emergency cases that required urgent intervention (14). Clinical departments across the country had taken the actions in accordance to directive by Ministry of Health issued on 24th March 2020 (15). Reduction and postponement of clinical services had also affected obstetrics and gynaecology services in Malaysian public hospitals (16).…”