RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on endoscopy training in a tertiary care centre in Germany
JF Frontline Gastroenterology
JO Frontline Gastroenterol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 454
OP 457
DO 10.1136/flgastro-2020-101504
VO 11
IS 6
A1 Roemmele, Christoph
A1 Manzeneder, Johannes
A1 Messmann, Helmut
A1 Ebigbo, Alanna
YR 2020
UL http://fg.bmj.com/content/11/6/454.abstract
AB Objective The COVID-19 crisis has impacted on all aspects of health care including medical education and training. We describe the disruption of endoscopy training in a tertiary care center in Germany.Design/Method The reorganization of a high-volume endoscopy unit during the German COVID-19 outbreak is described with special focus on endoscopy trainees. Changes in case volume of gastroenterology fellows were evaluated and compared to a year prior to the outbreak.Results Reallocation of resources led to the transfer of gastroenterology fellows to intensive care and infectious disease units. Case volume of fellows declined between January and April 2020 by up to 63%. When compared with data from the year prior to the outbreak, endoscopy performed by fellows reduced by up to 56%. Educational meetings and skill evaluation were cancelled indefinitely.Conclusion The COVID-19 outbreak has had a negative impact on endoscopy training of gastroenterology fellows in a high-volume center in Germany. This must be taken into consideration when planning “return-strategies” after the pandemic.