Table E1.
Allergy and immunology FITs who responded to the survey were given an open text box to share their reactions to the changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic
| Perceived concerns related to reassignment to COVID-19 duties | Reassignment of pediatrics trained FITs to adult COVID-19 units |
| Concerns that reassignments were perceived as nonvoluntary | |
| FITs being reassigned yet attendings not being reassigned | |
| Concern about being asked to practice as “attendings” in COVID-19 units | |
| Concern about compromised education in allergy and immunology due to reassignments | |
| Perceived clinical/research concerns | Requirement to be onsite despite virtual clinics |
| Concerns about perceived lack of support to find solutions to compensate for reduced clinical training and experience | |
| Concern about fewer patients and lack of physical examinations | |
| Concern about inability to complete research, especially bench research | |
| Lack of involvement of the Allergy Immunology service in COVID-19-related research | |
| Perceived educational/career concerns | Discontinued didactics and reliance solely on self-study |
| Cancelled electives resulting in compromised education | |
| Concerns related to missed networking and learning opportunities due to cancelled national conferences such as the AAAAI and CIS | |
| Concern related to uncertainty around the ABAI board examination and potential delays. Additional concerns regarding preparation for the ABAI board examination with a cancelled board review course | |
| Concerns about possible delays in graduation | |
| Job concerns including delays, hiring freezes, inability to find jobs, rescinded offers. Concern about viability of practices | |
| Perceived personal concerns | Added burden around family responsibilities. Concerns around childcare because schools and daycares are closed reducing time to study |
| Lack of personal time to study or get work done |
The table included responses summarized and grouped by areas of concerns.
AAAAI, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology; ABAI, American Board of Allergy and Immunology; CIS, Clinical Immunology Society; COVID-19, Coronavirus disease 2019; FIT, fellow-in-training.