ABSTRACT
Purpose: To report the degree to which post-graduate trainees in radiation oncology perceive their education has been impacted by COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was administered in June 2020 to trainee members of Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology (CARO). The 82-item survey was adapted from a similar survey administered during SARS and included the Stanford Acute Stress Reaction and Ways of Coping Questionnaires. The survey was developed using best practices including expert review and cognitive pre-testing. Frequency statistics are reported. Results: Thirty-four trainees (10 fellows, 24 residents) responded. Nearly half of participants indicated that the overall impact of COVID-19 on training was negative/very negative (n=15;46%) or neutral (n=15;46%) with a small number indicating a positive/very positive (n=3;9%). Majority of trainees agreed/ strongly agreed with the following statements: “I had difficulty concentrating on tasks because of concerns about COVID-19” (n=17;52%), “I had fears about contracting COVID-19” (n=17;52%), “I had fears of family/loved ones contracting COVID-19” (n= 29;88%), “I felt socially isolated from friends and family because of COVID-19” (n=23;70%), “I felt safe from COVID-19 in the hospital during my clinical duties“ (n=15;46%), and “I was concerned that my personal safety was at risk if/when I was redeployed from my planned clinical duties” (n=20;61%). The changes that had a negative/very negative impact on learning included “the impact of limited patient contact” (n=19;58%), “the impact of virtual patient contact” (n=11;33%), and “limitations to travel and networking” (n=31;91%). Most reported reduced teaching from staff (n=22;66%). Two-thirds of trainees (n=22, 67%) reported severe (>50%) reduction in ambulatory clinical activities, 16 (49%) reported a moderate (<50%) reduction in new patient consultations, while virtual follow-ups (n=25: 76%) and in-patient clinical care activities (n=12;36%) increased. Nearly half of respondents reported no impact on contouring (n=16;49%), on-treatment management (n=17;52%) and tumour boards (n=14;42%) with the majority of other respondents reporting a decrease in these activities. Electives were cancelled in province (n=10/20;50%), out-of-province (n=16/20;80%) and internationally (n=15/18;83%). Conclusions: Significant changes to radiation oncology training were wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic and roughly half of trainees perceive that these changes had a negative impact on their training. Safety concerns for self and family were significant and strategies to mitigate these concerns should be a priority.
ABSTRACT
The Internet is widely used for accessing COVID-19 information and while abundant, it is frequently complex, inconsistent, and contradictory. This “misinfodemic” has repeatedly revealed low health literacy to be an underestimated public health problem. This study evaluated whether this holds true for information about COVID-19 and cancer on commonly visited websites. “Coronavirus and cancer” and “COVID-19 and cancer” were entered in Google Canada and the first 10 results were evaluated for readability, understandability, actionability, accuracy and consistency. Much of the cancer and COVID-19 information online does not meet health literacy best practices and is inaccessible to patients seeking this information. © 2021 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.