DOI: 10.5061/dryad.37pvmcvj2
title: Challenges of students and residents of human medicine in the first four months of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic – Implications for future waves and scenarios

description: Introduction: In the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, medical students
 and residents are expected to adapt and contribute in a healthcare
 environment characterized by ever-changing measures and policies. The aim
 of this narrative review is to provide a summary of the literature that
 addresses the challenges of students and residents of human medicine in
 the first four months of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in order
 to identify gaps and find implications areas for improvement within the
 current situation and for potential future scenarios.  Methods:
 We performed a systematic literature search and content analysis (CA) of
 articles available in English language that address the challenges of
 students and residents of human medicine in the first four months of the
 fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Results: We retrieved 82 articles
 from a wide range of journals, professional backgrounds and countries. CA
 identified five recurring subgroup topics: «faculty preparation»,
 «uncertaintiesy and mental health», «clinical knowledge», «rights and
 obligations» and «(self-) support and supply». Within these subgroups the
 main concerns of «(re)deployment», «interruption of training and career»,
 «safety issues», «transmission of disease», and «restricted social
 interaction» were identified as potential stressors that hold a risk for
 fatigue, loss of morale and burnout. Discussion: Students and residents
 are willing and able to participate in the fight against Covid-19 when
 provided with appropriate deployment to areas of need, thorough
 supervision, legal guidance, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)safety
 measures and, clinical necessary knowledge, thorough supervision, social
 integration and mental health support. Preceding interviews to decide on
 reasonable voluntary deployment, the use of new technology and frequent
 feedback communication with faculties, educators and policymakers can
 further help with a successful and sustainable integration of students and
 residents in the fight against the pandemic.Faculties and policymakers
 should be in close contact with the youngest in training and be cognizant
 of their concerns and intrinsic creativity on the scenario. The use of new
 technology for interaction and knowledge provision, preceding interviews
 to decide on reasonable voluntary deployment and the provision of mental
 health support seem important measures to aid students and residents in
 the fight against the current pandemic. Conclusion: It is critical that
 faculties, educators and policymakers have a better thorough understanding
 of the needs and concerns of medical trainees during this pandemic times.
 Leaders should facilitate close communication with students and residents,
 value their intrinsic creativeness and regularly evaluate their needs in
 regards to deployment, knowledge aspects, safety measures, legal concerns
 and overall well-being.
description: We retrieved articles in English language focusing on the
 challenges in preparation of students and residents in human medicine
 within the first four months of the Covid-19 pandemic. With Wuhan Health
 Authorities initially reporting on December 31 2019, we set the timeframe
 for the literature search from January 1 2020 accordingly. The main search
 was performed via PubMed, resulting in 1108 articles. After exclusion of
 inappropriate articles, we ended up with 162 student- and resident-related
 articles. We then excluded 80 more articles, solely focusing on the
 adaptation of curricula (e.g. moving classes online), resulting in a final
 pool of 82 articles. BW reviewed titles, abstracts, and full text of the
 final articles and performed a content analysis (CA). Categorization and
 analyzation has been done in Microsoft Excel 2016 under Windows
 10.