A cross-sectional study of the impact of COVID-19 on surgical registrar training at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Faizal Thayab; Bashir Laheu; Carl-Heinz Kruse

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i6.1839

Authors

Dr. Faizal Thayab (MBChB)Discipline of Ophthalmology, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Berea 4001, Durban, South Africa1
Dr. Bashir Laheu Honorary lecturer, Department of Ophthalmology, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Berea 4001, Durban, South Africa
Dr. Carl-Heinz Kruse Sessional Lecturer, Department of Ophthalmology, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Berea 4001, Durban, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i6.1839

Keywords:

COVID-19, Education, Medical, Surgical, Graduate, Specialisites

Abstract

Background

Data are scarce regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected surgical training in low- and middle-income countries. This study investigates the pandemic’s influence on postgraduate surgical education and research activities among registrars at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey administered between 6 September 2023 and 28 February 2025. The target population comprised all surgical registrars, including those in anaesthesiology, enrolled at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, from March 2020 to December 2022. The survey consisted of twenty-four multiple-choice questions designed to assess the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical skill development, training activities, examination readiness, and postgraduate research involvement.

Results

A total of 70 registrars participated in the study. Among them, 63 participants (90%) reported a decrease in surgical training. 53 participants (75.7%) reported a perceived decrease in the acquisition of surgical skills, and nine registrars (28.1%) were required to modify or restart their postgraduate research projects, while only two (5.3%) reported that their research activities were unaffected by the pandemic.

Conclusion

During the COVID-19 pandemic, surgical trainees at this institution reported a decrease in the quality of surgical training and skills acquisition.

Recommendation

Further research at multiple centres to provide broader insights and larger sample sizes to allow for meaningful comparisons across different surgical specialties regarding the impact of COVID-19 on registrar training programs.

Author Biographies

Dr. Faizal Thayab, (MBChB)Discipline of Ophthalmology, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Berea 4001, Durban, South Africa1

Dr. Faizal Thayab (MBChB), Discipline of Ophthalmology, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Berea 4001, Durban, South Africa.

Dr. Faizal Thayab completed his medical degree summa cum laude from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa in 2015. He has always had a passion for eye care having also completed his Bachelor of Optometry degree cum laude before completing his medical degree. He is currently a fifth-year registrar in Ophthalmology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and hopes to improve registrar training programs through his future research. This research manuscript is a compulsory component of Faizal Thayab’s registrar training.

Orchid ID: https://orchid.org/0009-0000-8266-1029

Dr. Bashir Laheu, Honorary lecturer, Department of Ophthalmology, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Berea 4001, Durban, South Africa

Dr. Bashir Laheu (MBChB, Dip Ophth, FC Ophth, MMED Ophth) Discipline of Ophthalmology, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Berea 4001, Durban, South Africa.

Dr. Carl-Heinz Kruse, Sessional Lecturer, Department of Ophthalmology, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Berea 4001, Durban, South Africa

Carl-Heinz Kruse (MBChB, FCOphth, MMed(Ophth)), Discipline of Ophthalmology, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Berea 4001, Durban, South Africa.

Dr Kruse is a sessional lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He has an interest in anterior segment surgery, and his research focus is on electronic health records and human error theory.

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