Training infectious diseases senior residents during COVID-19: The impact and the lessons learnt

Abstract

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic had major impact on the training of Infectious Diseases (ID) residents across the globe. They were part of the frontline staff, while at the same time training to be ID physicians. This study focused on identifying their capability, i.e. the ability to adapt existing competencies to new situations, which is now recognised as an essential element of professional practice.

Aim

This study explored what ID residents learnt and how they learnt as they adapted to working in this unpredictable and challenging COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

This qualitative explorative study was based in the Infectious Diseases Senior Residency Programme across three training institutions in Singapore. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data were analysed using a template analysis technique.

Results

Nine ID residents participated in this study. They learnt to engage with uncertainty in a meaningful way by relying on prior training and rapidly learning how to most effectively learn (metacognition). Learning was enhanced by collaboration between multidisciplinary health professionals, strong leadership and intrinsic motivation from personal interest in ID. They learnt through observing how senior faculty approached and managed the COVID-19 situation.

Conclusion

When learning for future capability in a rapidly evolving situation, role-modelling and mentoring are essential as available information resources may still not provide the learning from skilled doctors with actual experiences managing complex, uncertain situations.

Keywords:

• COVID-19 pandemic
• infectious diseases residents
• capability

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the nine ID residents who willingly spared their time to be interviewed. This study would not have been possible without their support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s). The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Jolene Ee Ling Oon

Jolene Ee Ling Oon, MBBCh BAO, MHPE, is the Infectious Diseases Senior Residency Programme Director and an Infectious Diseases physician at the National University Hospital in Singapore. She is also an Assistant Professor at the Yong Loo Lin School Of Medicine at National University of Singapore.

Shao Feng Mok

Shao Feng Mok, MBBS, MHPE, is the Internal Medicine Junior Residency Associate Programme Director and an Endocrinology physician at the National University Hospital in Singapore. He is also an Assistant Professor at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at National University of Singapore.

Dujeepa D. Samarasekera

Dujeepa D. Samarasekera, MHPE, FRCP(Edin), is the Senior Director of Centre for Medical Education, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.

Pim Teunissen

Pim Teunissen, MD, PhD, is a gynecologist at the Maastricht University Medical Center MUMC+. He is also the scientific director of the School of Health Professions Education (SHE) at Maastricht University, both in Maastricht, the Netherlands.