Daily activities and training experiences of urology residents during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Indonesia: A nationwide survey.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the training experiences of urology residents in Indonesia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study using a web-based questionnaire (SurveyMonkey) involved all registered urology residents in Indonesia. The questionnaire was structured in Bahasa Indonesia, composed of 28 questions, and divided into three sections: demographic characteristics, current daily activities, and opinions regarding training experiences during the COVID-19 outbreak. The survey was distributed to all respondents via chief of residents in each urology center from May 26, 2020 to Jun 2, 2020.

RESULTS

Of the total 247 registered urology residents, 243 were eligible for the study. The response and completeness rate for this study were 243/243 (100%). The median age of respondents was 30 (range: 24-38) years old, and 92.2% of them were male. Among them, 6 (2.5%) respondents were confirmed as COVID-19 positive. A decrease in residents' involvement in clinical and surgical activities was distinguishable in endourological and open procedures. Most educational activities were switched to web-based video conferences, while others opted for the in-person method. Smart learning methods, such as joining a national or international speaker webinar or watching a recorded video, were used by 93.8% and 80.7% of the respondents, respectively. The respondents thought that educational activities using web-based video conferences and smart learning methods were effective methods of learning. Overall, the respondents felt unsure whether training experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic were comparable to the respective period before.

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected urology residents' training experiences. However, it also opened up new possibilities for incorporating new learning methodologies in the future.