Impact of COVID‐19 on pediatric emergency fellowship training in Saudi Arabia

Impact of COVID‐19 on pediatric emergency fellowship training in Saudi Arabia

COVID-19, Medical education, Pediatric, Emergency fellowship

Objectives To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the academic and clinical processes of pediatric
emergency medicine (PEM) fellowship training held by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCHS).
Methods A cross-sectional, nationwide, survey-based study was conducted between June and December 2020. PEM
program directors as well as fellowship trainees were eligible. The collected data were under the following domains:
(1) sociodemographic and work-related characteristics; (2) impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patient flow
and PEM procedures; (3) impact on emergency skills and competence; (4) impact on academic performance; and (5)

attitudes toward PEM practice and potential solutions. Monthly reports of PEM visits and procedures were also col-
lected from program directors.

Results A total of 11 PEM program directors and 42 fellows responded. During the pandemic, the number of total

ED visits decreased by 70.1%, ED inpatient admissions fell by 57.3%, and the number of intraosseous need inser-
tion and lumbar puncture procedures fell by 76.7% and 62.3%, respectively; the temporal differences in the median

frequencies were statistically significant. The pandemic has influenced the knowledge acquisition and leadership
skills of one-third of program directors (36.4% and 27.3%, respectively) and the skills and competence of fellows
(31.0%). The majority of directors and fellows showed that online classes/webinars were useful (100% and 95.2%,
respectively), and there was no need to extend the current fellowship training to compensate for learning deficits
(62.7% and 78.6%, respectively). The importance of dedicated modalities to fill in the training gap increased by 62.5%
of program directors and 35.7% of fellows.
Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic had significant effects on clinical procedures and academic activities
in the PEM fellowship program. The impact was consistently perceived across PEM program directors and fellows.
Technology-driven solutions are warranted to mitigate the expected learning and clinical deficits due to reduced
clinical exposure.

Ahmad Khobrani1*, Osama Kentab1

, Abdulaziz Algarni1

, Ahmad AAl Ibrahim1

, Javid Ahmad Bhat1
,

Ammar Abdulmajeed1

, Wafa Homaida1

, Sara El Basheer1

, Abdullah Akkam2 and Muna Aljahany3

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-023-00518-9

2023

Peri Irawan

pdf

english

text