AUTHOR=Gallo Gaetano , Guaitoli Eleonora , Barra Fabio , Picciariello Arcangelo , Pasculli Alessandro , Coppola Alessandro , Pertile Davide , Meniconi Roberto Luca , SPIGC Surgical Training Working Group , Berton Federico , Conti Luigi , Formisano Giampaolo , Iossa Angelo , Maruccia Michele , Mazzari Andrea , Oragano Luigi , Ratti Francesca , Serenari Matteo , Settembrini Alberto , Sirignano Pasquale , Soriero Domenico , Vallicelli Carlo , Vizzielli Giuseppe , Dimonte Ruggero , Cianci Stefano , Giovenzana Marco , Palmieri Geraldo , Pasqui Edoardo , Petrillo Marco , Portigliotti Luca , Sambucci Daniele , Sena Giuseppe , Sparavigna Marco , Bettini Giordana , Fanello Gianfranco , Mendogni Paolo , Monteleone Lorenzo , Ardò Nicoletta Pia , Tomaiuolo Pasquina , Tomasicchio Giovanni , Paradiso Nicola , Dibra Rigers , Trigiante Giuseppe , Dezi Agnese , Carbone Ludovico , Negrello Sara , Di Bartolomeo Mattia , Patini Romeo , Marcuzzo Alberto Vito , Campione Alberto , Comacchio Giovanni , Murana Giacomo , Antonio Martino , Manitto Mattia , Galzerano Giuseppe , Di Marco Carlo , Velluti Francesco , Berardi Gianmauro , Romboli Andrea , Perelli Federica , Weindelmejer Jacopo , Tamburrino Domenico , Calarco Alessandro , Losco Luigi , Nacchiero Eleonora , Elia Rossella , Lo Torto Federico , Vicenti Giovanni , Pappalardo Vincenzo , Pisani Dafne , Palmisano Graziano , Brascia Debora , Troisi Luigi , Renzi Federica , Melandro Fabio , Pecere Silvia , Gazia Carlo , Di Franco Gregorio , Romano Gaetano , Bolletta Alberto , Botteri Emanuele , Di Meo Giovanna , Chiappetta Sonia , Sgaramella Ilaria , Pennestri Francesco , Girardi Antonella , Mariniello Donatella , Marcasciano Marco , Telegrafo Michele , Fracomeni Simona , De Paoli Francesca TITLE=Restructuring surgical training after COVID-19 pandemic: A nationwide survey on the Italian scenario on behalf of the Italian polyspecialistic young surgeons society (SPIGC) JOURNAL=Frontiers in Surgery VOLUME=9 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/surgery/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2022.1115653 DOI=10.3389/fsurg.2022.1115653 ISSN=2296-875X ABSTRACT=Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the disruption of surgical training. Lack of communication, guidelines for managing clinical activity as well as concerns for safety in the workplace appeared to be relevant issues. This study aims to investigate how surgical training has been reorganized in Italy, almost 2 years after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and methods

A 16-item-electronic anonymous questionnaire was designed through SurveyMonkey© web application. This survey was composed of different sections concerning demographic characteristics and impacts of the second COVID-19 pandemic wave on surgical and research/didactic activities. Changes applied in the training programme and activities carried out were also investigated. The survey was carried out in the period between June and October 2021.

Results

Four hundred and thirty responses were collected, and 399 were considered eligible to be included in the study analysis. Three hundred and thirty-five respondents continued working in Surgical Units, with a significant reduction (less than one surgical session per week) of surgical sessions in 49.6% of them. With concern to didactic and research activities, 140 residents maintained their usual activity, while 116 reported a reduction. A sub-group analysis on resident moved to COVID-19 departments showed a reduction of research activities in 35% of them. During the period considered in this survey, the surgical training program was not substantially modified for most of participants (74.6%).

Conclusion

Our survey demonstrated that surgical residency programs haven't improved 2 years after the beginning of the pandemic. Further improvements are needed to guarantee completeness of surgical training, even in emergency conditions.