How Patient Care During COVID-19 Pandemic Improved Subsequent Surgical Training: An Appraisal and Introspection

Abstract

Surgical residency program across the world saw a dramatic change during the COVID-19 pandemic. Various new technologies like virtual methods of learning, simulation programmes were developed to continue training of the surgical residents. To find out how COVID-19 improved surgical training, we searched the literature and shortlisted 34 articles relevant to the topic and reviewed them. Most of the articles pointed out how physical form of training in surgical residency was converted to virtual platforms and simulation programmes. Literature also points how COVID-19 has led to the improved care of critically ill patients by the surgical residents in the post-COVID era. Team work and working together with all specialties were other areas that saw significant changes. We hope to put forward the positive changes in the surgical residency programmes encountered during COVID-19 and to carry forward these lessons for better training of residents in the future.