Daily activities and training experience of urology residents during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia: A nationwide survey

Objective: To explore the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the training experience of urology residents in Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a web-based questionnaire (SurveyMonkey) involved all registered urology residents in Indonesia. The questionnaire was structured in Bahasa Indonesia, consisted of 28 questions, and divided into three sections: demographic characteristics, current daily activities, and opinions regarding training experiences during the COVID-19 outbreak. The survey was distributed to all respondents via chief of residents in each urology center from May 26, 2020 to Jun 2, 2020. Results: Of the total 247 registered urology residents, 243 were eligible for the study. The response and completeness rate for this study were 243/243 (100%). The median age of respondents was 30 (range: 24–38) years old, and 92.2% of them were male. Among them, 6 (2.5%) respondents were confirmed as COVID-19 positive. A decrease in residents' involvement in clinical and surgical activities was distinguishable in endourological and open procedures. Most educational activities were switched to web-based video conferences, while others opted for the in-person method. Smart learning methods, such as joining a national or international speaker webinar or watching a recorded video, were used by 93.8% and 80.7% of the respondents, respectively. The respondents thought that educational activities using web-based video conferences and smart learning methods were effective methods of learning. Overall, the respondents felt unsure whether training experience during the COVID-19 pandemic was comparable to before the respective period. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected urology residents' training experience. However, it also opened up new possibilities for incorporating new learning methodologies in the future.