Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ophthalmologists Residents Well-being and Training Programs: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background/aim: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted residents' well-being and training programs, with potentially severe consequences for specialties like ophthalmology, where residents were often reassigned to non-specialty-related units and tasks. This study aimed to systematically review the pandemic's effects on ophthalmology residents' well-being and training.

Patients and methods: A systematic review of the literature was carried out using MEDLINE, Scopus, and EBSCO databases. After removing duplicates, 173 unique records were identified, and 30 were considered as potentially relevant. Of these, 13 studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were further analyzed.

Results: The reviewed studies revealed a notable decline in both theoretical and practical aspects of residency training during the pandemic. These impacts were supported by both objective data (e.g., the number of surgeries carried out during the training), and residents' self-reported experiences. The pandemic also had a negative impact on residents' mental health, as evidenced by comparative analyses of data collected prior and during the pandemic. The studies highlighted a correlation between the severity of training disruptions and the negative effects on mental health.

Conclusion: Education programs should be implemented to cover the knowledge gap of those who were residents during the pandemic. Additionally, targeted mental health support initiatives are recommended to mitigate the long-term impacts on residents' psychological well-being.

Keywords: COVID-19; ophthalmology; pandemic; residents; review; training; well-being.