The impact of COVID-19 on obstetrics and gynaecology trainees; how do we move on?

Abstract

Background: Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) is an evolving specialty that encompasses women’s health at its core. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant patient care challenges, however simultaneously it has resulted in the interruption of clinical training and cessation of all elective work. Our primary aim was to assess the impact of the pandemic on the experiences of O&G trainees. Methods: An email invite was sent to all 127 O&G trainees in Kent, Surrey and Sussex (KSS), inviting them to participate in an anonymous 33-question survey. The survey data was collected and analysed over a 4-week period. Results: Of the 127 trainees sent the survey, 87 responded (69%). 39% and 75% of trainees agreed that the pandemic had a negative impact on their overall physical and mental wellbeing respectively. 43% agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic had adversely affected their obstetric training experience whilst almost all trainees stated a significant negative impact on benign gynaecology surgical training. Reassuringly, over 80% were positive they would recover from the negative impacts of COVID-19. Conclusions: It is evident that COVID-19 has impacted O&G trainees in several ways. Whilst we face uncertain times, we must firstly ensure the physical and mental well-being of all trainees. It is encouraging that non-emergency consultations and benign surgery are being restarted nationwide and whilst this will inevitably help with re-booting surgical training, we must also think “outside” the box and utilise other modes of teaching and training to safeguard learning whilst mitigating against the negative impacts of subsequent waves.

Did the COVID‐19 pandemic affect mental health, training progression, and fertility planning of obstetrics and gynecology trainees? A survey of London trainees

“…We believe that this study, which collected data from 177 respondents from the London region, gives an accurate reflection of how the pandemic had impacted on mental well-being, workload, training progression, and fertility, as well as BAME and risk assessment issues for medical staff, across a broad section of ST1-7 O&G trainees. Notwithstanding the fact that the data pertained to a single region, our comprehensive study supports and adds to previously published works by Shah et al 5 and Mallick et al, 20 who explored mental health matters and training challenges experienced by 99 and 127 UK-based O&G trainees, respectively. It is crucial that trainees affected, especially those close to CCT, are supported to achieve the necessary competencies and those hoping to pursue further interests are accommodated as a matter priority.…”

The impact of COVID-19 on O&G trainees; where are we now?

“…Trainees have also been disproportionately negatively impacted and similarly these negative effects may be felt for many years to come. Many trainees were redeployed to support front line services at the height of the pandemic despite not feeling clinically competent to do so and many reported a significant effect on their mental and physical wellbeing (Mallick et al, 2021). Furthermore, training opportunities available in the outpatient and surgical settings were drastically reduced due to the cessation of faceto-face teaching, clinical consultations, and nonemergency surgery.…”

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on training and mental well-being of surgical gynecological oncology trainees

“…These results are in keeping with published literature confirming a negative impact on the mental well-being of general obstetrics and gynaecology trainees. 26 Trainees with adequate pastoralsupport had lower-levels of anxiety-and-depression and distress. This is in keeping with published data supporting the positive impact of pastoral support on the mental well-being of medical practitioners.…”