Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmology training in the Philippines: A nationwide cross-sectional study among trainees

Objective@#This study was designed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmology training from the perspective of ophthalmology residents and fellows in the Philippines. @*Methods@#A 55-item online survey on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on ophthalmology training was sent to 168 ophthalmologists-in-training from March 15, 2021 to April 19, 2021. Participants from all ophthalmology training programs in the Philippines were selected via random sampling and proportional allocation.@*Results@#A total of 158 ophthalmologists-in-training (138 residents and 20 fellows) completed the survey. The areas of ophthalmology training that were found to be most disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic were surgical training (95%), clinical activity (94%), and in-person interaction with consultants in the out-patient department (94%) and operating room (85%). In contrast, trainees found an increase in didactic teaching activities (75%) and research activities (39%). Overall, 78% of the trainees felt that the pandemic had a negative impact on their ophthalmology training. The aspects which were most frequently found to be negatively impacted by the pandemic were mental health (70%), followed by technical skills (69%), and clinical skills (61%). No major differences were found on the impact of COVID-19 on training when compared across year levels and across institutions compared by location (National Capital Region vs. non-National Capital Region) and funding type (government vs. private funding). Ninety-nine percent (99%) of institutions shifted most of their didactic teaching activities to online platforms. Surgical video conferences and simulator training or skills labs were thought to be helpful to surgical training by 89% and 81% of the trainees, respectively. Majority of trainees attended to patients via telemedicine averaging 40% of their clinic consults. However, only 16% reported confidence in handling their patients through telemedicine.@*Conclusion@#The COVID-19 pandemic has had an overall negative impact on ophthalmology training in the Philippines. It caused significant disruption in trainees' clinical and surgical activities, and affected their mental health. Despite this, the situation provided an opportunity to boost trainees' theoretical knowledge. Majority are receptive to new technology-based learning tools to preserve the effectiveness of their training. Efforts to re-evaluate current training programs are needed to ensure sustainability and quality of ophthalmology training in the Philippines.

Development of the fellowship program in musculoskeletal rehabilitation medicine at Philippine General Hospital in the University of the Philippines Manila

@#Musculoskeletal conditions are among the leading causes of consultations in Rehabilitation Medicine. A fellowship program in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Medicine was proposed to enrich physiatrists’ knowledge and skills in evaluating and managing musculoskeletal conditions. In this paper, we shared the process of developing the curriculum of the fellowship program, which was proposed to and eventually approved by the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila. A core group of consultants, considered as experienced clinicians and educators in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Medicine in the study institution, designed the program from the scope of training to learning competencies, outcomes, and assessment methods. To our knowledge, developing the fellowship program in this constantly evolving area in Rehabilitation Medicine is the first of its kind in the Philippines and a milestone in the history of postgraduate education in the longest-running training program for aspiring physiatrists.

Reconsideration on training of internal chief medical residency in post-graduate medical education system / 基础医学与临床

Under the backgroud of establishing a unified and standardized postgraduate medical education system in China,this article reviews the origination and current situation of chief resident of internal medicine. By comparing the difference of training in Sino-American,the chief residency of internal medicine should comply with the interna-tional medical education system,and flexible design the role and function of chief medical residents combining with the domestic medical and training needs.

Impact of institutional accreditation by the Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology on the treatment and survival of women with cervical cancer / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: The Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology (JSGO) initiated a nation-wide training system for the education and certification for gynecologic oncologists in 2005. To assess the impact of the quality of the JSGO-accredited institutions, JSGO undertook an analysis of the Uterine Cervical Cancer Registry of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) to determine the effectiveness of the JSGO-accredited institutions on the treatment and survival of women with cervical cancer. METHODS: The effectiveness of 119 JSGO-accredited institutions and 125 non-JSGO-accredited institutions on the treatment and survival of women with cervical cancer were compared by analyzing the tumor characteristics, treatment patterns, and survival outcomes of women with stage T1B–T4 cervical cancer utilizing the data in the JSOG nation-wide registry for cervical cancer (2006–2009). RESULTS: A total of 14,185 eligible women were identified: 10,920 (77.0%) cases for 119 JSGO-accredited institutions and 3,265 (23.0%) cases for 125 non-accredited institutions. A multivariate analysis showed that age, stage, histology type, and treatment pattern were independently associated with mortality. Moreover, women who received treatment at the JSGO-accredited institutions had a significantly decreased mortality risk compared to non-accredited institutions (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]=0.843; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.784–0.905). Similar findings on multivariate analysis were seen among subset of women who received surgery alone (aHR=0.552; 95% CI=0.393–0.775) and among women who received radiotherapy (aHR=0.845; 95% CI=0.766–0.931). CONCLUSION: Successful implementation of gynecologic oncology accrediting institution was associated with improved survival outcome of women with cervical cancer in Japan.

A Practice Patterns of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists in South Korea

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to assess the career paths and practice patterns of child and adolescent psychiatrists in South Korea. METHODS: A survey on demographic data, work environment, opinion on fellowship training program, and current practice patterns was conducted in 76/223 (34.0%) of all child and adolescent psychiatrists (N=223) were from 1980 to 2008. The survey data from the responders were analyzed. RESULTS: More than half of those surveyed were women. The mean age of survey participants was 40.8 years; most were married, and lived in the Seoul National Capital Area. In general, the responders were very satisfied with their work. They worked in private practice, public sector, group practice, and as consultants. Up to 87% of the patients treated were children and adolescents. The most common treatment modalities were medication and parent psychoeducation. Social skills training and play therapy were applied mainly for children aged 4 to 12 years old. Cognitive behavioral therapy and counseling were preferred in adolescents. CONCLUSION: The current study used a database approach in order to define current practice patterns. These data may be helpful in consideration of future training programs, workforce issues in child and adolescent psychiatry in South Korea, and also in collaboration with other mental health providers.

Perspectives on Fellowship Training Standard in Interventional Neuroradiology / 신경중재치료의학

Interventional neuroradiology (INR) is a relatively new clinical subspeciality that uses radiologic imaging, endovascular techniques, and clinical expertise to diagnose and treat diseases involving the central nervous system, head and neck, and spine. Although rapid and successful advances of INR have been achieved in Korea as well as in the world during the past two decades, all of INR procedures still pose a significant risk of misdiagnosis or complication, "the stroke". Accordingly, appropriate and adequate training and experience are essential for the safe performance of these procedures, and minimum program requirements of them must be standardized. However, no recommendations or guidelines for fellowship training and education have been established in Korean Society of Interventional Neuroradiology (KSIN) so far. They must be discussed more and will be established and evolved.