Impact of COVID-19 on Postgraduate research in Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Challenges, Solutions and Opportunities

Abstract

Objectives: COVID-19 pandemic has affected medical services and facilities throughout the world. This has resulted in unavoidable decline in postgraduate training and learning in different medical specialties. There has been reduction in all aspects of training and learning of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OBG) residents in general and research training in particular. At the time of the study, although limited institutions have started to put some efforts to resume and endure resident research in OBG but still there are no uniform adaptive measures which can be implemented in all of the institutions. The present study was conducted with the aim to assess challenges faced by OBG residents in doing research during COVID-19 pandemic in a government medical college of India. We also assessed the helpfulness and support provided by the Thesis Mentorship Programme (TMP) of the department during pandemic. Material and Methods: A self developed semi structured, pre-validated questionnaire was mailed to the residents of the OBG training program of our medical college. It was completed anonymously by them after accepting an informed consent. Results: 21 postgraduates from the second and third year OBG residency participated in this cross-sectional study. We found that COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significant research training impairment. There was “some” to “complete interruption” in the various research activities of the residents. The research aspect most severely affected was data collection. Also majority of residents were satisfied with the support offered by the TMP of the department in sustaining resident research during pandemic. Conclusion: COVID-19 has significant and critical implications for the resident research training in OBG.The TMP and similar experiences also helps residents in continuing research during untoward circumstances. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.20(5) 2021 p.77-84

Impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on obstetrics and gynecology residency training program in India: A national online survey

“…Since March 2020, when the pandemic was declared by WHO, 1 the residents have faced the ups and downs of the two waves. COVID‐19 had not only affected the patient care but also had far‐reaching implications for undergraduate medical teaching, learning and surgical training programs for the post‐graduate residents and research 7,8 . Residents' participation in regular gynecologic outpatient services and minor and major elective gynecologic operations were drastically reduced.…”

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental and medical education in Bangladesh: a pilot study and the implications

“…Similar to other LMICs, including those across Africa, there were appreciable challenges to the education of dental and medical students at the start of the pandemic including mentorship 39,41,48,68,69 . This included the need for both staff and students to rapidly become familiar with e-learning approaches including addressing a lack of direct contact between students and faculty members (Table 2).…”

“…In addition, Bangladesh has one postgraduate medical university, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), that controls Bangladesh's postgraduate medical education. The questionnaire was developed based on the study undertaken in Africa regarding the impact of COVID-19 on physician and pharmacy education combined with publications from Bangladesh and other countries discussing similar issues and challenges alongside the experiences of the senior-level co-authors 1,[39][40][41][42][43]48 . Four questions were contained in the questionnaire to address the aims and objectives of the study.…”

“…Consequently, in view of the increasing challenges with managing patients with both infectious and noninfectious diseases in Bangladesh, it is important that new physicians and dentists are appropriately trained to enhance the rational use of medicines across disease areas. However, we are aware of the challenges in healthcare professional education in Bangladesh during the pandemic, including for physicians and pharmacists, arising from the closure of universities and transfer to e-learning across Bangladesh and wider 1,[39][40][41][42][43] . We are also aware of the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of students and university staff across countries including medical students [44][45][46][47] .…”

​Key findings regarding COVID 19 in Bangladesh and wider and their implications

“…Rafat and Khan in their article discuss potential ways forward including Thesis Mentorship Programmes (TMP). The majority of residents surveyed as part of their research were satisfied with the support offered by TMP by key members of the department, helping them to continue with research projects despite the many challenges 70 . Yusof, Islam and Ashiq et al in their respective papers discuss the many challenges to higher education including physician and pharmacy education as a result of the pandemic, with both educators and students struggling initially to adapt to new online learning approaches 15,71,72 .…”