Urology residency training during the pandemic. A review of the current literature

Introduction & Objectives: On March 11, 2020, WHO declared Covid-19 as a pandemic placing a significant strain on the worldwide healthcare system. Although urology does not stand at the frontline of care for patients with Covid-19, every practicing urologist has been affected by the global outbreak. The objective of this review is to evaluate the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on urology residency training programs. Materials & Methods: We performed a literature review of the current evidence on urology residency training during the Covid-19 pandemic. Relevant databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Library) were searched (until June 2021) and the main study-inclusion criterion was the presence of residents’ or directors’ opinion on their residency training program during the Covid-19 crisis. Results: Literature search identified 72 articles. 14 studies comprising a total of more than 2500 residents were eligible for inclusion in the analysis. During the pandemic, learning activities carried out by urology residents suffered a forced modulation. There has been a decrease in operation volume especially in procedures in which residents were directly involved. Similarly, there was a decline in most of the academic activities worldwide. Furthermore, the negative impact on residents’ mental well-being and lifestyle is reported by many studies. On the other hand, the lockdown stressed the opportunity to review the current training system and to increase the implementation of tools such as telemedicine and smart-learning surgical skill training programs. Conclusions: Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in significant changes in urology residency programs worldwide, with a negative impact on matters such as surgical training and academic activities. Residents’ well-being and mental health is also risked. Hopefully, this unprecedented situation has generated new online learning modalities and technological innovations in the field of training in urology

Urology residency training in Greece. Results from the first national resident survey. / Formación de la residencia de Urología en Grecia. Resultados de la primera encuesta nacional.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This is the first national survey assessing Greek Urology residency programs. The main objective of this study is to assess the level of confidence and perception of Greek Urology residents regarding their educational program and detect areas of improvement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 51-question survey was developed via an electronic platform and answered by 91 out of 104 Greek residents from March 2019 until May 2019. Fisher's exact test, chi-squared test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used with statistical significance set at p=.05. RESULTS: The median overall satisfaction regarding surgical training was 6/10 regardless of working schedule, working in a University Department, PGY or number of residents in clinic. Most residents have not performed any scrotal ultrasound or pressure-flow-studies; however, they are more familiar with KUB ultrasound. Double-J stent insertion and cystoscopy were common procedures for residents. Bureaucracy was reported as a major issue by 70.4% of residents. ESWL has not been performed by 80.2% of residents, 58.2% residents performed less than 10 ureteroscopies, and only the last year trainees performed more than 10 TURBT and TURP. Most residents mentioned to rarely perform basic steps in many open or laparoscopic urological procedures. Surprisingly, 59.3% of residents have not published any study in peer-reviewed journals. Regarding satisfaction, 44% rarely feel satisfied at work and 59.3% sometimes suffer from burnout. Response rate reached 87.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the results from this survey, regulatory authorities should join forces to establish a structured curriculum of clinical, surgical and research training in Urology across Europe.

"Lock-down'' for COVID-19 has ''locked up'' Urological emergencies in Greece

Over the last couple of months physicians world wide are struggling to prevent the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spread all over the world. It has become obvious that our health care systems should under go modifications in order to successfully confront similar pandemics, since this is considered the ''century of pandemics'', due to the high incidence of new virus attacks with expressly high virulence (Hong Kong flu in 1968, AIDS, SARS in 2002, H1N1 pandemic in 2009, MERS in 2012 and COVID-19 in 2020) (1).