The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Education and Wellbeing of the Residents in the Family Practice Residency Program in the Ministry of Health in Bahrain

Abstract

Background: The global spread of SARS-CoV-2 profoundly affected physicians, especially the trainees in residency programs, in terms of psychological, social well-being, and educational aspects. However, the extent of its impact and how it compromises their quality of life and care has not been established well. Objectives: The aim of our study is to assess the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on psychological, social wellbeing and education among the trainees in residency training programs in the Ministry of Health in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 89 trainee residents in February 2022 using the perceived stress questionnaire distributed over social media platforms to be answered online. The questionnaire was composed of 4 parts: demographics, the impact of the COVID-19 virus on psychological well-being, training, and education. A p-value cut-off point of <0.05 at a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was used to determine statistical significance. Result: Of the 89 questionnaires distributed, 85 trainees responded (95.5%). Residents who covered COVID-19 centers for more than four months had a higher impact on their training than those who covered less than two months. Female trainees were more affected than males. However, there was no significant difference among genders regarding the level of stress and psychological well-being. Conclusion: The adoption of new strategies in the training department for the trainees is recommended to decrease the adverse psychological effects and to prevent any compromise in the training in future pandemics. Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Pandemic, Trainees, Family Practice, Psychological wellbeing, Residency