Redeployment of surgical trainees to intensive care during the COVID-19 pandemic: evaluation of the impact on training and wellbeing

Payne, Anna; Rahman, Rafid; Bullingham, Roberta; Vamadeva, Sarita; Alfa-Wali, Maryam

OBJECTIVE: : The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of redeployment of surgical trainees to intensive care units (ICUs) during the COVID-19 pandemic- in terms of transferrable technical and non-technical skills and wellbeing. DESIGN: : This was a survey study consisting of a 23-point questionnaire. SETTING: : The study involved surgical trainees that had been redeployed to the (ICU) across all hospitals in London during the COVID-19 pandemic. PARTICIPANTS: : The survey was sent to 90 surgical trainees who were between postgraduate years two to four. Trainees in speciality training programs (>5 years after graduation) were not included. Thirty-two trainees responded to the questionnaire and were included in the study results. RESULTS: : All respondents spent between 4 and 8 weeks working in ICU. Prior to redeployment, 78% of participants had previous experience of ICU or an affiliated specialty, and >90% had attended at least one educational course with relevance to ICU. There were statistically significant increases in confidence performing central venous cannulation and peripheral arterial catheterisation (p<0.05). With regards to clinical skills, respondents reported feeling more confident managing ventilated patients, patients on non-invasive ventilation, dialysis and circulatory failure patients after working in ICU. Respondents (97%) felt that the experience would be beneficial to their future careers but 53% felt the redeployment had a negative impact on their mental health. CONCLUSIONS: : Redeployment of surgical trainees to ICU led to increased confidence in a number of technical and non-technical skills. However, proactive interventions are needed for training surgeons with regard to their psychological wellbeing in these extraordinary circumstances and to improve workforce planning for future pandemics.