RESUMO
Introduction: After being removed from patient care due to equipment shortages, medical students and new residents around the United States are returning to clinical medicine/acute care settings as the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic continues. We hypothesize that trainees returned with increased preparedness and had better access to and knowledge of personal protective equipment (PPE). Methods: Anonymous online surveys were distributed via snowball sampling to medical students and residents performing clinical duties in the United States. Respondents completed self-assessments for preparedness regarding PPE use, access to PPE and COVID-19 testing, and access to COVID-19 positive patients. Group comparisons were conducted using chi-square analysis and the Kruskal Wallis rank sum test. Multivariate ordinary least squares regression analysis was used to estimate the relationship between feeling prepared and other variables. Results: A total of 194 trainees (63 year 3 [MS3] medical students, 95 year 4 [MS4] medical students, and 36 year 1 [PGY1] postgraduates]) completed the survey. Collectively, 27% provided their own PPE on ≥ 1 rotation, 27% did not know how/where to obtain PPE, 36% did not know how/where to get tested, and 57% were never asked to demonstrate proficiency with PPE. In-person training was reported at 31.3% prior to 2020, which decreased to 21% during 2020. Mask-fit testing decreased from 83.1% to 56.9%. Online video lectures on PPE training increased from 52% to 80%. The mean (±SD) preparedness for return to clinical duty for MS3 students was 3.4/5 (±1.0), for MS4 students was 3.8/5 (±.90), and for PGY1 residents was 4.1/5(± .89) (P = .002). PPE training in 2020 was not associated with feeling prepared (P = .81). Conclusion: Survey respondents felt prepared by their institutions to return to clinical duties during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was some apprehension about knowledge of or access to PPE and COVID-19 testing. The confidence in the ability to don/doff PPE was the main factor associated with increased feelings of preparedness. While in-person training decreased from pre-2020 to during 2020, an increase of in-person training with supervised donning and doffing provides one potential avenue of further increasing the preparedness of trainees.
