COVID-19 outbreak impact on plastic surgery residents from Romania

Abstract

The COVID-19 outbreak triggered a global crisis with long-term effects on people’s daily lives. It has altered surgical practice and education and imposed major changes in healthcare systems and resources. In order to analyze the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Romanian Plastic Surgery residents, we carried out an anonymous questionnaire through Google forms. Survey items addressed aspects such as how the pandemic has affected their surgical practice, their exposure to the virus, and the protective measures that have been implemented to minimize risk. Among other results, our study found that nearly 1 in 5 respondents had contact with a coronavirus patient, that most of the patients were tested at admission, mostly using RT-PCR, and that various combinations of personal protective equipment had been used. Most participants also felt that their surgical training has been negatively affected, despite attendance at online courses and webinars. Although the pandemic has brought significant changes to the daily lives of residents and to the residency training, the Plastic Surgery community has been brought closer than ever and reminded that, through unified efforts, such obstacles can be overcome.