@article{3101893,
    title = "The impact of COVID-19 on surgical training at a tertiary hospital in Greece: a ‘hidden infectious enemy’ for junior surgeons?",
    author = "Vailas, M. and Sotiropoulou, M. and Mulita, F. and Drakos, N. and Ambalov, E. and Maroulis, I.",
    journal = "European Surgery (Acta Chirurgica Austriaca)",
    year = "2021",
    volume = "53",
    number = "5",
    pages = "240-245",
    publisher = "Springer-Verlag",
    issn = "1682-8631, 1682-4016",
    doi = "10.1007/s10353-021-00699-8",
    keywords = "adult;  Article;  clinical competence;  controlled study;  coronavirus disease 2019;  educational status;  general surgery;  Greece;  human;  lockdown;  pandemic;  physiological stress;  professional development;  psychological aspect;  psychological well-being;  questionnaire;  Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2;  skill;  surgeon;  surgical technique;  surgical training;  tertiary care center;  university hospital;  young adult",
    abstract = "Background: Soon after its appearance, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) became a pandemic, with over 111 million cases reported and 2.4 million deaths worldwide. Although the focus of public health systems must lie on patients’ care and treatment, SARS-COV‑2 infection has also affected surgical trainees in their academic and professional development, causing significant disruption in all forms of their training. Methods: The aims of this study were firstly to assess the impact of SARS-CoV‑2 on core surgical training, regarding operative, educational and academic skills, as well as the general effect on psychological status and well-being of surgical trainees at a tertiary center in Greece. All core surgical trainees (17) in the general surgery department at the University Hospital of Patras were invited to participate in a voluntary anonymous survey via printed questionnaires. Results: Junior trainees and senior surgical trainees performed or assisted in almost 50% fewer cases in the COVID era when compared with the period reported before the virus. As far as courses, conferences and exams attended by trainees are concerned, a significant reduction in numbers (six vs 35) before and after the start of COVID-19 pandemic was apparent. In all, 10 (62.5%) trainees felt that their confidence in the operating theatre had been negatively impacted by the pandemic, while four (25%) trainees felt significant stress levels as a result of the national lockdown. Conclusions: It is imperative for surgical educators to design and implement new alternative ways to assist surgical trainees in their education and also avoid their undertraining during the pandemic. © 2021, Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature."
}