ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aca-demic development of residents in medical and surgical specialties at the University of Antioquia through an online survey. Method(s): Observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study involving a survey distributed to medical residents. Result(s): The survey was completed by 156 residents. They all had electronic devices and the means necessary to carry out virtual activities. Almost half of the participants (47.4%) lived with people who were considered high-risk for COVID-19. Of those surveyed, 30.1% felt discriminated against for being healthcare workers. Even though 81.4% of participants were satisfied with the theoretical training, only 55.1% were satisfied with the practical training. The most detrimental impact was the risk of contracting COVID-19, which was reported by 61% of participants. On average, residents were absent for 31 days. The 52% of residents participated in telehealth activities, and 97.5% participated in virtual activities. Discussion(s): The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the training of residents. This study quantified a decrease of in-person educational activities including practical activities and an increase in virtual methods of education and communication. The pandemic has forced educational ins-titutions to transform the way they teach in order to follow public health measures. Copyright © 2023 Universidad de Antioquia.