key: cord-0871343-x8xusu72
authors: Gipson, Jacob; Lee, Robin; Clements, Warren
title: Impact of COVID‐19 lockdowns on registrar reporting volumes in a Melbourne teaching hospital
date: 2021-11-18
journal: J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol
DOI: 10.1111/1754-9485.13353
sha: 5fd6d986a0a7b5b36db2ea0fa63d5bb5cae758a2
doc_id: 871343
cord_uid: x8xusu72

nan

Dear editor, During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a reduction in diagnostic imaging throughout Australia 1 and reports of reduced trainee reporting. 2, 3 In 2020, Melbourne experienced a prolonged lockdown, and we investigated one aspect of the potential impact on registrar training by assessing annual reporting rates. This included 12 registrars in training Phase 1 (years 1-3) and 6 in Phase 2 (years 4-5). All registrars remained on-site.

Report numbers were extracted from the Radiology Information System. There was a 17% decrease in total departmental studies performed from February to October 2020, compared to 2017-2019. For ease of interpretation, registrar-reporting numbers were annualised to estimate mean studies per year. During 2020, the estimated annual reporting rate decreased by 15% (2017-2019: mean 6706, SD 2348; 2020: mean 5719, SD 1781; P = 0.12) (Fig. 1) .

Overall, the largest mean decrease for all trainees was a 33% reduction in registrar-performed interventional ultrasound procedures ( Decreased imaging volumes due to COVID presents uncertainty for trainees with experiential requirements to achieve college fellowship. 4 Reassuringly, even at a lower estimated annual reporting rates in 2020, registrars should still meet minimum training requirements. This is important as trainees may need to complete much of their training under similar circumstances. Although the overall mean reporting rate decreased, this allowed junior registrars the time to report significantly more MRIs than previously. This shows the adaptability of a flexible consultant and trainee group.

Our institution proactively instituted measures to mitigate reduced reporting, including aiming for all studies to be primarily reported by registrars, with consultants co-reading. This strategy may have partially obviated potential decline in reporting volume. Other adjuncts increased, such as online didactic teaching, small group tutorials, viva practice and re-reads of interesting cases. 5 Increased familiarity with electronic platforms meant tutorials were more accessible to trainees who were on external rotations. Opportunities to prioritise research projects were also presented. While these factors helped mitigate the situation, it is unknown how they substitute for real patients in the longer-term.

Despite the lockdown, the reduction in estimated average reporting rates was modest and not statistically significant. The hospital and our trainees adapted well to the situation, still achieving experiential training requirements while ensuring trainees gain a rounded experience in order to practice radiology at the high standard expected by our patients.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diagnostic imaging services in Australia

Impact of COVID-19 on UK radiology training: a questionnaire study

Impact of COVID-19 on Canadian Radiology Residency Training Programs

Radiodiagnosis training program curriculum: experiential training requirements

A new normal in radiology resident education: lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic