Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Medical specialization model in Spain is carried out through specialized health training, through the residency program. Residents are a key element for the proper functioning of today’s National Health System. The aim of the study is to analyze, by an anonymous survey, the opinion of three aspects among final-year residents in Endocrinology and Nutrition (E&N): self-assessment of the knowledge acquired, working prospects, care and training consequences arising from the pandemic COVID-19.

Materials and methods: Cross-sectional observational study using a voluntary and anonymous online survey, shared among final-year national interns in the last year of the E&N program, carried out between June-July 2021. The survey consisted of 20 questions. The results were analyzed with the SPSS version 25 statistical program.

Results: Fifty-one responses were obtained, 66% of the residents, most of them from the central region of the country. Fifty-nine percent of the respondents were trained in tertiary hospitals with more than 800 beds compared to 41% who were trained in centers with between 200-800 beds. Overall perception of their knowledge was 7.8 out of 10, being diabetes and thyroid the best rated sections, followed by nutrition, pituitary, adrenal and finally lipids. Most external rotations were in thyroid and nutrition areas. A total of 96.1% residents, carried out some activity associated with COVID-19, with a training deterioration of 6.9 out of 10. 88.2% have cancelled their rotations and 74.5% have extended their working schedule. The average negative emotional impact was 7.3 out of 10. Most of them carry out research work, spending time out of their working day to do so. 80.4% would like to continue in their training hospital, remaining 45.1%. 56.7% have an employment contract of less than 6 months, most of them practicing Endocrinology.

Conclusion: The perception of the knowledge acquired during the training period is a ‘B’. Residents consider that the pandemic has led to a worsening of their training, generating a negative emotional impact. Employment outlook after completing the residency can be summarized as: temporality, practice of Endocrinology and hospital mobility.