Neurology training and research in the Covid-19 pandemic: A survey of the Resident and Research Fellow Section of the European Academy of Neurology.

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2) outbreak has disrupted residency programs due to the university and hospital's priorities to face this emergency at all expenses. Most research projects and clinical trials were temporarily stopped or postponed. The Resident and Research Fellow Section (RRFS) of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) has decided to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on neurology training.

METHODS

All EAN RRFS members were invited to fill out an online questionnaire of 40 items concerning their clinical involvement during the COVID-19 emergency, and the impact of the pandemic on their training.

RESULTS

Of the 227 RRFS members who completed the questionnaire, 222 were from Europe, and from those 111 were from Portugal, Italy or France. Responders highlighted that severe restrictions have been amended to face this pandemic, including reduction of inpatient beds, prohibition of in-person visits and limitation to hospitals access for patients' relatives. This was accompanied by an increase in email correspondence and phone calls with 50 % of countries allowing telemedicine to reach outpatients. Seventy-nine percent of the respondents felt that the pandemic will likely have a serious impact on their training and career.

CONCLUSION

The pandemic lead to a disruption of neurology activities, including medical training and research. The long-run impact of these changes remains unknown, but it will likely change the way neurology practice and training will be organized for future generations.