Table 2.
Mitigation and resolving solutions implemented
| Maslow's hierarchy (the ‘d-needs’) | Didactic programme | Clinical responsibilities | Nonclinical work responsibilities | Assessment |
| Esteem | • Creating appreciation board in department to celebrate work of trainees during the pandemic. | • Provide screening and PTSD counselling tools for residents in COVID-19 ICU. | • Delivering notes of appreciation from patients and staff• Creating public service health messages on social media with trainee involvement | • Provide self-assessment tools and knowledge retrieval practice to allow residents to build portfolio of accomplishment. |
| Love/Belonging | • Building wellness sessions within didactics• Creating meal trains for trainees who contracted the illness | • Making sure all trainees were using PPE appropriately• Creating groups within each setting | • Periodic check-ins for trainees• Schwartz rounds (Schwartz Rounds | The Schwartz Center) | • Mentoring and peer support via online and distance mechanism can improve group cohesion and help navigate anxiety and depression. |
| Safety | • Educational sessions moved to online format• Involving trainees in decision making for resuming didactics | • Case mix was changed to eliminate elective procedures.• Trainees limited from caring for COVID-19 patients in some settings. | • Demonstrate support for communities of colour and identify programs for security and safety at hospital and community. | • Using simulation for assessment during rotations when traditional schedules are disrupted. |
| Physiological | • Suspending regular didactic programs until trainees feel ready to learn• Holding regular townhalls to address trainee needs• Emergency contact numbers available to all | • Distributing appropriate PPE to trainees• Reassigning trainees to clinical sites that were appropriate for level of training | • Working with grocery stores near hospitals to arrange for early and late hours for trainee use and online delivery of food and groceries | • Suspending traditional assessments until trainees are in appropriate frame of mind |