The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on urology residency in Turkey: a nationwide survey
Abstract
Material and Methods: The survey consisted of a total of 31 questions under four main topics (education and research activities, working conditions in health services, social-psychological effects, and personal health) and was carried out between July-August 2020. The survey was 89 urology training centers in Turkey, among them 76 (85.4%; 38 university and 38 state hospitals) completed and returned the questionnaire.
Results: The average weekly education hours decreased (2.43±2.46 hours to 1.3±1.8 hours; p=.00) and 67 centers (88.15%) used new technologies such as webinars and videoconferencing.
The time devoted to weekly research activities also decreased during the pandemic (2.15±2.54 hours to 1.8±1.93 hours; p<0.001). However, university hospitals increased their research activities (9.9%), while state hospitals decreased (44%). The average weekly outpatient clinic hours decreased from 86.23±86.54 to 37.22±19.88 (p<0.001) and the regression was higher in state hospitals (63.61%) compared to university hospitals (42.41%) (p <0.05). A significant decrease was observed in the number of operations per week compared to the pre-pandemic period (from 40.7±24.25 to 14.3±16.44; p<0.001). In addition, 74 centers (97.36%) reported that they continued to perform emergency urological cases and 41 centers (53.9%) reported that the total working hours decreased, but 72 centers (94.7%) reported that they were employed in non-urology areas such as Covid outpatient clinics or services.
For the residents, 10 centers (13.15%) provided childcare, 55 centers (72.36%) provided accommodation, and 18 centers (23.68%) provided transportation, but 33 centers (43.42%) lacked protective personal equipment and 26 centers (34.21%) gave leave to employees with comorbidity. Residents were concerned about not having enough surgical cases in 57 centers (75%), the transmission of Covid-19 to their family in 73 centers (96.05%), and in 34 centers (44.73%), they had moved away from their homes to protect their families. Furthermore, residents were isolated in 25 centers (32.89%) and swabs were taken in 54 centers (71.85%) due to the query (doubt, suspicion) of illness. Residents were diagnosed with Covid-19 in 14 centers (18.42%).
Conclusion: This survey has shown that as the Covid-19 pandemic affects all areas of life, it also causes serious negatives in the academic (educational and research), social, and psychological lives of urology residents.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Urology
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Arif Kalkanlı
0000-0001-6509-4720
Türkiye
Cem Tuğrul Gezmiş
0000-0002-1634-4516
Türkiye
Coskun Kaya
0000-0002-7445-2304
Türkiye
Onur Fikri
0000-0002-5731-4620
Türkiye
Ateş Kadıoğlu
0000-0002-5767-4837
Türkiye
Publication Date
October 27, 2022
Submission Date
April 5, 2022
Acceptance Date
September 2, 2022
Published in Issue
Year 2022 Volume: 17 Number: 3