Table 4.

Trainee recommendations on practice and training amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

Commonly expressed trainee perspectives
Day-to-day practice
Wider access to testing of surgical patients and clinical staff would serve to reassure all parties and restore effective care.
A pragmatic view should be taken to facilitate, support, and promote COVID-19–related research participation and collaboration.
Training progression
Trainee progression should be considered on an individual basis, with flexibility and mutual agreement on duration and purpose of any extension period.
Competency and not clinical training time in the specialty—as evaluated by trainers in discussion with individual trainees—should underpin panel decisions on progression.
Specific and attainable adaptations to training need to be agreed, mapped and communicated by national training bodies.
Support
Online learning interventions should be made available, focusing on (1) clinical topics relevant to cardiac and thoracic surgery and (2) the conduct and delivery of research.

COVID-19, Coronavirus 2019.