Introduction
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant decrease in clinical activities, reduction of elective surgeries, and restriction of workforce to essential personnel in hospitals nationwide including among Otolaryngology departments.1 Otolaryngology programs have faced significant reductions in surgical case volume to conserve resources, with many institutions limiting trainee coverage.2-4 In addition, some trainees have been redeployed to practice outside of their specialty to meet the rising need for COVID-19 related medical care.5 As these parameters only begin to ease, their impact on education and specifically surgical training is limited,6,7 and questions have been raised as to whether surgical training will need to be extended to ensure adequacy.6,8
In Otolaryngology, concerns regarding reduction in surgical and specialty-specific clinical training are layered with concerns regarding personal safety and protection. Among healthcare providers, otolaryngologists have been reported as among the highest risk for exposure and infection due to close contact with mucous membranes that may contain high viral load9,10 and performance of high risk procedures such as mucosal surgery and tracheostomy.11
In the setting of social distancing, didactic teaching sessions have moved to virtual classroom and lecture models.8,12Models of online education, such as the Global On-Line Fellowship program, have shown the potential efficacy of remote learning within Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.13 In addition to changes in clinical experiences, national gatherings that contribute to trainee education and career advancement including national conferences, oral board examinations, and accreditation testing have been either postponed or cancelled.6,8 Lastly, some trainees are preparing to begin their careers at a time of uncertainty both for the healthcare system and the economy.
A recent resident survey during the COVID-19 area showed that 73% residents continue to feel concerned about contracting the virus and its impact on their training.4 To further explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Otolaryngology trainee education and impact on future career, we performed a survey of Otolaryngology residents and fellows in the United States (US) and Canada regarding educational experiences, use of technology and related concerns surrounding safety and future career during the COVID-19 pandemic.