Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction

The pandemic has altered the day-to-day running of hospitals and most of the material and human resources have been made available for COVID-19 care. So have the residents in Endocrinology and Nutrition (MIR), who have been working on the front line, and this has led to alterations in their training programme. In addition, this unexpected and stressful work situation has had psychological consequences. The Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (SEEN) wanted to evaluate how the pandemic has affected the residents in our speciality in Spain.

Material and methods

From 9 to 22 November, all MIR in were invited to participate anonymously. A survey was created using Google Forms and the MIR members of SEEN and heads of departments and tutors were contacted. Surveys were collected with demographic data (age, sex, year of training), location and size of hospital, alteration of internal and external rotations and training, participation in teleconsultation, infection by COVID, participation in COVID teams and emotional involvement.

Results

Eighty-seven surveys were received: -67.8% female. MIR: 81.6% 3–4th year (60% 4th). -Size: 88.5% >500 beds. Cancellation of rotations: 70.1% in own speciality, 43.7% in their own centre, 37.9% another centre. Participation in teleconsultation: 93.1%. Training courses, congresses: 97.7%. Perception of training impact: 78.1%. COVID infection: 21.8% and quarantine: 28.7%. Participation in COVID teams: 83.9% (53.5% for more than two months). Feeling supported by tutor: 67.8% A lot - Quite a lot. Affected mood: 75.8% A lot - Quite a lot.

Conclusions

This study shows the disruption that the residents have suffered in their training programmes, due to the health care collapse generated by the pandemic. In 4th- year residents, the loss of important rotations in the speciality could affect their future professional activity. The psychological impact of the pandemic should not be forgotten. The positive aspects to be highlighted are having had experience in Teleconsultation and having participated in multidisciplinary teams in an exceptional pandemic situation. New training scenarios (online, virtual reality, etc.) that can replace or complement the classic models should be considered to ensure the correct training of the residents. Assuming that, after the 3rd wave, the impact on training and rotations may have been even greater than described with these data, the SEEN requests that consideration be given to extending the residency period for those who have lost more than 3 months due to participation in COVID teams.

Keywords: resident, training, COVID-19.