Impact of COVID-19 on Young Italian Epileptologists
Author Information
Author(s): Silvia Masnada, Carlotta Spagnoli, Maddalena Duca, Daniela Chiarello, Tommaso Lo Barco, Bruna Nucera
Primary Institution: Paracelsus Medical University
Hypothesis
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the educational and professional growth of young epileptologists in Italy?
Conclusion
The pandemic negatively impacted training, research, and clinical activity in the epilepsy field, highlighting the need for improved virtual communication methods.
Supporting Evidence
- 83% of participants reported changes in clinical activity during the pandemic.
- 35.8% of educational activities were reduced at epilepsy centers.
- 58.5% rated the webinars organized by YES-I as very educational.
- Only 32.1% of clinicians were satisfied with telemedicine.
Takeaway
The COVID-19 pandemic made it harder for young doctors who treat epilepsy to learn and work, but some found online classes helpful.
Methodology
An electronic survey with 18 multiple choice questions was distributed to assess the impact of the pandemic on educational and professional activities.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias and limited representation of senior epileptologists.
Limitations
Selection bias due to lack of information about specific centers and a limited sample size may not represent the entire population of Italian epileptologists.
Participant Demographics
73.6% female, 26.4% male; majority aged 30 or older; 45.3% were residents, 9.4% PhD students.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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