Pediatric Resident Perspectives on the Impact of COVID-19 on Training.

OBJECTIVES: At the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, disruptions to pediatric care and training were immediate and significant. We sought to understand the impact of the pandemic on residency training from the perspective of pediatric residents. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of categorical pediatric residents at US training programs at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. This voluntary survey included questions that explored the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on resident training experiences, postresidency employment plans, and attitudes and perceptions. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and mixed-effects regression models. We performed a sensitivity analysis using respondents from programs with a >40% response rate for questions regarding resident attitudes and perceptions. RESULTS: Residents from 127 of 201 training programs (63.2%) completed the survey, with a response rate of 18.9% (1141 of 6032). Respondents reported multiple changes to their training experience including rotation schedule adjustments, clinic cancellations, and an increase in the use of telemedicine. Respondents also reported inconsistent access to personal protective equipment and increased involvement in the care of adult patients. Graduating resident respondents reported concerns related to employment. Respondents also noted a negative impact on their personal wellness. CONCLUSIONS: Responding residents reported that nearly every aspect of their training was impacted by the pandemic. Describing their experiences may help residency program and hospital leaders supplement missed educational experiences, better support residents through the remaining months of the pandemic, and better prepare for extraordinary circumstances in the future.

Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Simulation-Based Clinical Correlation Curriculum as an Adjunctive Pedagogy in an Anatomy Course.

PROBLEM: Because reported use of simulation in preclinical basic science courses is limited, the authors describe the design, implementation, and preliminary evaluation of a simulation-based clinical correlation curriculum in an anatomy course for first-year medical students at Perdana University Graduate School of Medicine (in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine). APPROACH: The simulation curriculum, with five weekly modules, was a component of a noncadaveric human anatomy course for three classes (n = 81 students) from September 2011 to November 2013. The modules were designed around major anatomical regions (thorax; abdomen and pelvis; lower extremities and back; upper extremities; and head and neck) and used various types of simulation (standardized patients, high-fidelity simulators, and task trainers). Several methods were used to evaluate the curriculum's efficacy, including comparing pre- versus posttest scores and comparing posttest scores against the score on 15 clinical correlation final exam questions. OUTCOMES: A total of 81 students (response rate: 100%) completed all pre- and posttests and consented to participate. Posttest scores suggest significant knowledge acquisition and better consistency of performance after participation in the curriculum. The comparison of performance on the posttests and final exam suggests that using simulation as an adjunctive pedagogy can lead to excellent short-term knowledge retention. NEXT STEPS: Simulation-based medical education may prove useful in preclinical basic science curricula. Next steps should be to validate the use of this approach, demonstrate cost-efficacy or the "return on investment" for educational and institutional leadership, and examine longer-term knowledge retention.

Intention to receive influenza vaccine after an acute respiratory illness.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of symptoms and presence of confirmed influenza on intention to receive an influenza vaccine, specifically in patients recovering from a medically-attended acute (≤ 7 days' duration) respiratory illness (ARI). METHODS: During the 2013-14 influenza season individuals seeking outpatient care for an ARI that included cough were tested for influenza using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays (PCR) and completed surveys. Children (6 months-18 years) and adults (≥ 18 years) were grouped by their combined current season's influenza vaccination status (vaccinated/not vaccinated) and their vaccination intentions for next season (intend/do not intend). RESULTS: Overall, 41% (323/786) were unvaccinated at enrollment; of those, nearly half (151/323) intended to be vaccinated next season. When adjusting for demographic, health, and other factors, unvaccinated individuals who intended to be vaccinated next season were approximately 1.5 times more likely to have PCR-confirmed influenza compared with vaccinated individuals who intended to be vaccinated next season. CONCLUSION: The combined experience of not being vaccinated against influenza and seeking medical attention for an ARI seemed to influence approximately one-half of unvaccinated participants to consider influenza vaccination for next season.