THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN ON TRAINING ON OPHTHALMOLOGY TRAINEES IN EGYPT

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-Co2) COVID-19on training of ophthalmology trainees in Egypt and how they could overcome this effect. Method: Anonline based questionnaire was designed and distributed to a representative sample of ophthalmology trainees in Egypt; their answers were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 574participants completed questionnaires (61.5%) were residents and (38.5%) were specialists. Amajority of the responders (82.1%) participated in COVID-19 control programs and (99.5%) gotbenefits from excessive infection control programs. Most of the responders experienced anegative effect of COVID-19 lockdown on their training on both surgical (57.3%) and academic(55.6%) levels, but surgical skills were more affected. (86.6%) of the participants thought thiseffect could be overcome. The most popular choices to overcome this negative effect wereonline courses (97.7%) and webinars (84.3%).