Retrospective evaluation of novel case-based teaching series for first year otolaryngology residents

ABSTRACT

Background: First-year resident physicians began training in July 2020 in an environment of decreased clinical case exposure and increased feelings of discomfort because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To improve specialty learning, the University of Toronto Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery piloted a novel virtual case-based teaching intervention for first-year residents. Methods: A weekly virtual resident-led casebased discussion series was designed. Six residents and 4 staff otolaryngologists participated. A Likert-type survey administered retrospectively evaluated the effect on resident confidence. The survey rated participant comfort level on a scale of 1 to 5, from "not well prepared or comfortable" to "very well prepared or comfortable," in 7 different areas at the beginning of postgraduate year (PGY) 1 in July 2020, and in April 2021. Qualitative data collected assessed strengths and weaknesses of the intervention. Results: Residents reported increased comfort level in all areas assessed, including overall emergency department consults, inpatient consults, and specific epistaxis consults by 28%;triaging consults and addressing peritonsillar abscess consults by 24%;addressing pediatric otolaryngologic and airway concerns by 20% each;and addressing otologic concerns by 32%. All respondents agreed the intervention would benefit residents of other programs. Conclusion: The studied intervention can potentially improve both resident education and patient care. It facilitated real-time discussion of topics relevant to self-perceived knowledge deficits and timely advice on management of a new and changing population of patients with COVID-19. The intervention described could be applied to benefit residents in otolaryngology and other surgical specialty programs nationwide during and after the pandemic.