Virtual Instruction On Demand for Educational Orientation of Graduate Medical Education Trainees During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

\n Background: Graduate medical education (GME) orientation is traditionally an in-person endeavor. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted virtual approaches to trainee onboarding to reduce viral transmission; however, virtual orientation has not been well-described in GME. This study assesses the effectiveness of virtual orientation of GME trainees using data from an electronic survey.Objectives: We aimed to determine the usefulness of virtual instruction on demand for GME trainee onboarding at a large sponsoring institution.Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of de-identified electronic survey responses by residents and fellows who underwent GME orientation at our institution from June to August 2020. The primary outcome was to determine the effectiveness of virtual GME orientation for onboarding, and secondary outcomes included identifying barriers to implementation and weaknesses associated with virtual GME orientation. We conducted orientation sessions for the incoming residents and fellows using CarmenCanvas, our institutional learning management system (LMS).Results: 272 of 337 incoming trainees completed the virtual GME orientation survey. 97% of respondents reported that the contents of the orientation modules would help them perform their duties. 79% of trainees rated the overall quality as very good or good, 91% responded that virtual orientation provided effective learning, 94% reported accessing the course content easily, 92% reported easy navigation of the modules, 91% described it as well-organized, and 87% said that the modules supported their learning.Conclusions: Virtual instruction on demand is a safe, effective, and practical approach to resident and fellow onboarding into a GME sponsoring institution in the COVID-19 pandemic era.