COVID-19’s Impact on Neurosurgical Training in Southeast Asia

ABSTRACT Objective Neurosurgery departments worldwide have been forced to restructure their training programs due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic In this study, we describe the impact of COVID-19 on neurosurgical training in Southeast Asia Methods We conducted an online survey among neurosurgery residents in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand from 22 to 31 May 2020 using Google Forms The 33-item questionnaire collected data on elective and emergency neurosurgical operations, ongoing learning activities, and health worker safety Results A total of 298 out of 470 neurosurgery residents completed the survey, equivalent to a 63% response rate The decrease in elective neurosurgical operations in Indonesia and in the Philippines (median=100% for both) was significantly greater compared with other countries (p < 001) For emergency operations, trainees in Indonesia and Malaysia had a significantly greater reduction in their caseload (median=80% and 70%, respectively) compared with trainees in Singapore and Thailand (median=20% and 50%, respectively, p < 001) Neurosurgery residents were most concerned about the decrease in their hands-on surgical experience, uncertainty in their career advancement, and occupational safety in the workplace Most of the residents (221, 74%) believed that the COVID-19 crisis will have a negative impact on their neurosurgical training overall Conclusions An effective national strategy to control COVID-19 is crucial to sustain neurosurgical training and to provide essential neurosurgical services Training programs in Southeast Asia should consider developing online learning modules and setting up simulation laboratories, to allow trainees to systematically acquire knowledge and develop practical skills during these challenging times