575 - The Early Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Resident Education and Wellness

Poster Number: 575
Publication Number: 575.116

Monique M. Naifeh, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States; Michelle Stevenson, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, United States; Erika Abramson, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States; Christopher E. Aston, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States; Su-Ting T. Li, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, United States

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare delivery worldwide, including in residency training programs. This has presented a unique challenge to training programs who are tasked with providing adequate exposure to patients across practice settings to ensure resident competence for independent practice.

Objective: Evaluate the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on resident competence for more senior roles and wellness in pediatric residency programs.

Design/Methods: We conducted a mixed methods national survey of pediatric residency program directors (PDs) between May and July 2020. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Х2 and Wilcox rank sum tests. Multivariable modeling identified factors associated with resident preparation for more senior roles and resident wellness.

Results: Response rate was 55% (110/199). PDs reported clinical education was negatively affected by COVID-19 in both inpatient (n= 86, 78.2%) and outpatient (n=104, 94.5%) areas.  Residents’ preparation for more senior roles (n= 50, 45.5%) and procedural competence (n= 64, 58.2%) were also negatively affected (figure 1). In multivariable analyses, increasingly negative impacts on inpatient and outpatient clinical education were associated with a more negative impact on resident preparation for more senior roles (table 1). PDs reported overall worse resident wellbeing (n=56, 50.9%) and residency program morale (n=52, 47.3%) (figure 1). Large residency program size, mandatory re-deployment, an increasingly negative effect on outpatient clinical education, worsening residency program morale, and an increased percentage of residents missing work due to COVID-19 were associated with a more negative impact on resident wellness (table 2).
 Conclusion(s): The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruption of clinical education, negatively impacting resident preparation for more senior roles and procedural competence.  Given the COVID-19 pandemic’s evolving disruption of patient care and educational activities, defining a path forward that ensures resident competence for independent practice is vital. Robust support of trainees and training programs will be important to help maintain trainee and faculty wellness.
Figure 1: Impact of COVID-19 on Resident Education and Wellness
Table 1: Factors associated with Resident Preparation for More Senior Roles