A cross-sectional survey investigating the impact of COVID-19 on surgery training at teaching hospitals accredited by the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa, 2021
Background Globally, clinical training programmes have adopted several strategies in response to ... more Background Globally, clinical training programmes have adopted several strategies in response to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, including reorganizing the provision of care and safeguarding the well-being of trainees. This study aimed to describe the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical training programmes in Africa. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey through an online questionnaire distributed via email to all College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) trainees and faculty. Input regarding experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic was sought, including perceptions about personal protective equipment (PPE), organizational changes impacting training, use of e-learning platforms, reactions to the pandemic, and measures taken by institutions to combat COVID-19. Descriptive statistics were utilized, along with comparisons between faculty and trainee experiences. P values ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results Including 78 faculty members (31.6%), 247 participants completed the survey, and 175 believed they had been supplied with sufficient information regarding COVID-19 and the relevant PPE (71.7% of 244 who responded to this questionnaire item). The PPE components that were reported as most available were face masks (n=239, 96.8%), gloves (n=236, 95.5%), and body gowns (n=178, 72.1%). Most of the respondents (n=212, 85.8%) had learning reorganized at their centres due to the pandemic. Forty-two participants (17.0%) reported being exposed to COVID-19. Two respondents (0.8%) reported testing positive for COVID-19, but both were asymptomatic. About half of the respondents (n=122, 49.4%) used the existing COSECSA e-learning platform in the same manner as before the pandemic, and 174 participants (70.4%) suggested that COSECSA should implement a different examination format given the circumstances. Conclusions COSECSA training centres have adopted measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, the pandemic has already adversely affected staff and patients. The centres should increase access to information about COVID-19 and enhance infection protection practices. Likewise, COSECSA should enrich online educational platforms and consider alternative examination formats.
Trauma training provides crucial knowledge and skills for health-care providers in low- and middl... more Trauma training provides crucial knowledge and skills for health-care providers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Although such training has been adapted for physicians and emergency personnel in LMICs, few courses have been offered for medical students. The Trauma Evaluation and Management (TEAM) course, developed by the American College of Surgeons, provides a valuable framework for providing this content to medical students in an LMIC-context. We implemented the TEAM course at a single medical school in rural Kenya, for final-year medical students, utilizing the multimodal instruction and reference materials provided by the American College of Surgeons. We administered precourse and postcourse assessments, adapted the content for particular low-resource considerations, expanded the course to 2 d, and utilized a multidisciplinary and multinational group of surgical expert instructors. The entire final-year medical school class participated, and all completed pretesting ...
Smart phones have been in use since the early 90’s. The use of these gadgets has increased dramat... more Smart phones have been in use since the early 90’s. The use of these gadgets has increased dramatically in the past ten years with an estimated 4.8 billion users as of today(statistaR statistics portal). We continue to witness and describe new patterns of medical conditions directly or indirectly associated with use of these mobile phones. Psychosocial issues, musculoskeletal problems of the neck, back and upper limbs predominate. In this case presentation, one such description is presented of a painful hand condition that is attributed to common posture while using a smart phone in the office. This posture related hypothenar muscle inflammation due to smart phone use is the first to be described in literature to our knowledge. The purpose of this article is to show one way in which smartphone use can indirectly cause a disease state and pose a diagnostic challenge. Literature relating to other causes of pain around this hypothenar area is reviewed.
A cross-sectional survey investigating the impact of COVID-19 on surgery training at teaching hospitals accredited by the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa, 2021
Background Globally, clinical training programmes have adopted several strategies in response to ... more Background Globally, clinical training programmes have adopted several strategies in response to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, including reorganizing the provision of care and safeguarding the well-being of trainees. This study aimed to describe the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical training programmes in Africa. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey through an online questionnaire distributed via email to all College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) trainees and faculty. Input regarding experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic was sought, including perceptions about personal protective equipment (PPE), organizational changes impacting training, use of e-learning platforms, reactions to the pandemic, and measures taken by institutions to combat COVID-19. Descriptive statistics were utilized, along with comparisons between faculty and trainee experiences. P values ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results Including 78 faculty members (31.6%), 247 participants completed the survey, and 175 believed they had been supplied with sufficient information regarding COVID-19 and the relevant PPE (71.7% of 244 who responded to this questionnaire item). The PPE components that were reported as most available were face masks (n=239, 96.8%), gloves (n=236, 95.5%), and body gowns (n=178, 72.1%). Most of the respondents (n=212, 85.8%) had learning reorganized at their centres due to the pandemic. Forty-two participants (17.0%) reported being exposed to COVID-19. Two respondents (0.8%) reported testing positive for COVID-19, but both were asymptomatic. About half of the respondents (n=122, 49.4%) used the existing COSECSA e-learning platform in the same manner as before the pandemic, and 174 participants (70.4%) suggested that COSECSA should implement a different examination format given the circumstances. Conclusions COSECSA training centres have adopted measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, the pandemic has already adversely affected staff and patients. The centres should increase access to information about COVID-19 and enhance infection protection practices. Likewise, COSECSA should enrich online educational platforms and consider alternative examination formats.
Trauma training provides crucial knowledge and skills for health-care providers in low- and middl... more Trauma training provides crucial knowledge and skills for health-care providers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Although such training has been adapted for physicians and emergency personnel in LMICs, few courses have been offered for medical students. The Trauma Evaluation and Management (TEAM) course, developed by the American College of Surgeons, provides a valuable framework for providing this content to medical students in an LMIC-context. We implemented the TEAM course at a single medical school in rural Kenya, for final-year medical students, utilizing the multimodal instruction and reference materials provided by the American College of Surgeons. We administered precourse and postcourse assessments, adapted the content for particular low-resource considerations, expanded the course to 2 d, and utilized a multidisciplinary and multinational group of surgical expert instructors. The entire final-year medical school class participated, and all completed pretesting ...
Smart phones have been in use since the early 90’s. The use of these gadgets has increased dramat... more Smart phones have been in use since the early 90’s. The use of these gadgets has increased dramatically in the past ten years with an estimated 4.8 billion users as of today(statistaR statistics portal). We continue to witness and describe new patterns of medical conditions directly or indirectly associated with use of these mobile phones. Psychosocial issues, musculoskeletal problems of the neck, back and upper limbs predominate. In this case presentation, one such description is presented of a painful hand condition that is attributed to common posture while using a smart phone in the office. This posture related hypothenar muscle inflammation due to smart phone use is the first to be described in literature to our knowledge. The purpose of this article is to show one way in which smartphone use can indirectly cause a disease state and pose a diagnostic challenge. Literature relating to other causes of pain around this hypothenar area is reviewed.
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Papers by Mark Lutomia