Disaster preparedness, What we have learned from COVID 19 pandemic

Context: Despite a joint recommendation in 2003 by the AAMC and CDC that bioterrorism and mass-casualty training be included in the medical school curriculum, few medical schools have incorporated formal disaster training. COVID-19's impact surpasses previous pandemics, disrupting medical education by delaying clinical rotations and necessitating a rapid transition to telemedicine due to isolation and PPE shortages.

Objective: To understand COVID-19's impact on physicians-in-training and their preparedness and well-being amidst clinical and lifestyle changes. We aim to highlight educational gaps for future pandemic preparedness.

Study design and analysis: Descriptive statistics were used in SPSS to present demographics and responses and Chi-squared tests evaluated relationships between demographics and attitudes.

Study Population: Thirty-six residents from UTSW, Parkland, Children's Hospital, and Texas Health Resources were surveyed.

Result: Among participants, 9% (n=3) had previous public health emergency experience, while 91% (n=31) did not. Only 15% (n=5) received emergency response training outside of residency, with 3% (n=1) during medical school. Approximately 29% (n=10) believed their residency adequately prepared them for disasters, while 71% (n=24) considered disaster training important. During the pandemic, 62% (n=21) used telehealth tools, including 50% (n=17) by telephone, 50% (n=17) via live video, and 24% (n=8) through text messaging. 32% (n=11) reported patient satisfaction with telemedicine transitions. 12% (n=4) received adequate training, and 41% (n=14) found the transition easy. Regarding clinical education changes since March 2020, 47% (n=16) were satisfied. 97% (n=33) reported tolerating unexpected situations well, decreasing to 85% (n=29) during COVID-19. Mental health services remained adequate for 65% (n=22), compared to 68% (n=23) before pandemic. Overall work satisfaction was 88% (n=30) before pandemic it dropped to 62% (n=22) during the pandemic.

Conclusion: This study highlights COVID-19's profound impact on residents' lives and training, emphasizing the need for enhanced disaster preparedness training. Capturing physicians-in-training's perceptions is crucial for informing changes in medical education to better equip future physicians for crises. Addressing these gaps will be essential for ensuring optimal patient care in future pandemics.