Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on otolaryngology resident rhinology education

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Akshay K Murthy, Virginia Commonwealth University; Christian T Fontan, Virginia Commonwealth University; Maria Filippa Trikantzopoulou, Virginia Commonwealth University; Thomas H Fitzpatrick, Virginia Commonwealth University; Joshua Levy, Emory University; Jeremiah A Alt, University of Utah; Theodore A Schuman, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-01-10
• Publisher: WILEY
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9011800/#alr22956-sec-0050title:~:text=%C2%A9%202021%20ARS%E2%80%90AAOA%2C%20LLC.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/alr.22956
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: INTERNATIONAL FORUM OF ALLERGY & RHINOLOGY
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 8
• Start Page: 1067
• End Page: 1070
• Grant/Funding Information: There are no funding sources to disclose
• Keywords: Otorhinolaryngology; skull base; residency; residency education; Science & Technology; education; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; COVID 19; otolaryngology
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

The rapid evolution of the health care environment prompted by the initial surge in COVID‐19 cases in early 2020 resulted in significant operational and logistical changes in hospitals and clinics throughout the United States and worldwide. In response to the surge, academic medical centers implemented a major drawdown in nonurgent face‐to‐face patient care and clinical teaching, particularly in procedural specialties. The magnitude of this nationwide clinical drawdown and subsequent effect on resident education is unknown. Otolaryngologists and other clinicians who routinely perform invasive upper aerodigestive procedures were found to be especially susceptible to COVID‐19 infection during the early stages of the pandemic. 1 Consequently, medical advisement boards recommended the cessation of elective procedures. 2 , 3 Widespread postponement of elective rhinologic procedures may thus have resulted in a sizable lapse in clinical and procedural education opportunities for otolaryngology residents.