J Reconstr Microsurg 2021; 37(07): 602-607
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1723822
Original Article

Master Series Microsurgery for Residents: Results from a Comprehensive Survey of a Multitudinous Online Course during COVID-19 Pandemic

Eric Santamaría
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chief of Microsurgery Division, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez, México City, México
,
Luciano Nahás-Combina
2   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez, México City, México
,
Carlos Altamirano-Arcos
2   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez, México City, México
,
Edgar Vargas-Flores
2   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez, México City, México
› Author Affiliations
Funding None.

Abstract

Background Since COVID-19 emerged, it has significantly affected medical education. Surgical training has been blocked and the learning curve flattened. However, COVID-19 led to the outbreak of multitudinous online courses. Master series: microsurgery for residents (MSMR) has been the most extensive and accessible online nonfee course transmitted so far regarding reconstructive microsurgery. The primary aim of this study was to assess the impact of the MSMR in the surgical community as an international educational tool during pandemic confinement.

Methods A retrospective, observational, analytic, and transversal study was designed. An 11-item survey was sent to all the 1,513 attendees who completed at least 60% of course attendance during 2 days. Descriptive and analytic statistics were performed. The impact was measured by considering answers to questions 6 to 9 and 11 (course usefulness, microsurgery interest increase, desire to pursue a microsurgical career, attendance to in-person conferences, and overall score, respectively).

Results A total of 1,111 (73.4%) of eligible subjects were included. In total, 55.8% were plastic surgery residents. After the course, 98.9% would pursue a career in reconstructive microsurgery, and 45% would stop attending in-person conferences. The overall score of the event was 9.06 ± 0.9 (from 0 to 10) regardless of the current training status.

Conclusion The MSMR was a high impact course and has established a paradigm shift that will lead to an evolution in plastic surgery learning.



Publication History

Received: 28 July 2020

Accepted: 22 December 2020

Article published online:
17 February 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA