Table 2 Impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on trainees
Theme | Details | Exemplar Quotations |
|---|---|---|
Scope of practice | This theme describes the change in the scope of service of the postgraduate trainees as majority had been deployed to COVID-19 facilities | “Working in COVID-19 dedicated facilities for months, working with similar patients without diversity in cases.” (R) “I was deployed to COVID-19 facility and missed 3 blocks of my rotation.” (R) |
Case Load profile | This theme describes the trainees’ perceptions of the impact of the pandemic on the trainees’ exposures to specialty specific cases | “Less exposure to cases either Emergency or Elective as it was cancelled due to COVID-19, no face-to-face educational activities” (S) “Less number of elective surgical cases and theatre workload.” (R) |
Education (Theoretical) | This theme describes the trainees’ perceptions of the impact of the pandemic on the trainees’ theoretical education such as face-to-face activities and the difficulty to engage with online activities | “Many courses have postponed, activities cancelled.” (S) No morning report or direct supervision by consultants.” (R) |
Education (Practical) | This theme describes the trainees’ perceptions of the impact of the pandemic on practical education such as bedside teaching and clerkship rotations | “no education rounds, less procedures no courses no educational days….” (R) “Clinical skills classes have been cancelled.” (S) |
Impact on Learning Spaces | This theme describes the trainees’ perceptions of the impact of the pandemic on the availability of learning spaces such as libraries and study lounges | I can’t visit campus all lessons are online even the practical ones which makes it hard especially for clinical practice sessions and lab sessions.” (S) |
Impact on communication and interaction | This theme describes the trainees’ perceptions of the impact of the pandemic on trainees’ interaction with patients, colleagues, and supervisors | “We lost our connection with our program as we all worked in separate places.” (R) “Decreased my interactions with patients and other health care professionals so I feel my clinical skills were not as sharp as before.” (R) |
Workload | This theme describes the trainees’ perceptions of the impact of the pandemic on pandemic-related workload | “Too much workload and busy calls.” (R) “Working hours have increased with less time allocated for teaching.” (R) |
Travel and infection Control Restrictions | This theme describes the trainees’ perceptions of the impact of the pandemic on travel and infection control restrictions | “No leave, more stress.” (R) “Stress and fear of infection affected the Interest to be in contact with the patients.” (R) |