Implementation of teaching strategies and innovation to comply with the training competencies in an ophthalmology residency program during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic

Abstract

Purpose: The coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic put medical residency programs in a predicament, impacting clinical attention and surgical practice. This study aims to describe the adjustments applied in an ophthalmology residency program to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.Materials and Methods: An observational, comparative, and descriptive study was performed in an ophthalmology residency program to analyze the adaptations and innovations implemented to overcome the medical attention and training restrictions enforced by the sanitary authorities due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2020. The residents' record folders were analyzed yearly for academic, research, clinical, and surgical activities from 2018 to 2020. An online survey was applied to residents for congress attendance, research publications, time spent on classes, lectures, clinical cases, journal club, and surgical videos sessions during the pandemic.Results: Compared to years 2018 and 2019, during 2020, there was a significant increase in the hours destined per week to academic activities (6.04 vs. 16.42 h, P < 0.001); the monthly hours of journal club sessions (0.5 vs. 3.41 h, P < 0.001); and the number of published articles involving residents (0.4 vs. 2.52, P < 0.001). On the contrary, the hours of outpatient consultation (8 h/day vs. 4 h/day) and the number of cataract surgeries performed per resident decreased (48 vs. 15, P < 0.001) from 2019 to 2020.Conclusions: Prompt reaction and innovation were required to overcome the educational and training barriers imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. While remote academic activities increased significantly, online patient consultation and surgical simulation were necessary to avoid hindering patient's attention and surgical training.