{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,12]],"date-time":"2026-02-12T15:58:22Z","timestamp":1770911902507,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":52,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,8]],"date-time":"2025-05-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1746662400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":7,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100014559","name":"General Medical Council","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["None given"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["None given"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100014559","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,4]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,5]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Explore what is known about the impact of changes made at a national level to UK postgraduate medical education during COVID-19.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Design<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A scoping review, following Arksey and O\u2019Malley\u2019s framework, reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Data sources<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase and ERIC were searched for peer-reviewed literature, and grey literature was searched via DuckDuckGo. The initial search was conducted on 17 January 2023 and updated on 5 June 2024. Forward citation tracking was performed.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Eligibility criteria<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>English-language studies of any design examining national-level adaptations to postgraduate medical education (eg, curricula, examinations and Annual Review of Competency Panels (ARCPs)) within the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies were excluded, which focused solely on undergraduate education, international settings, grassroots-level changes (eg, to individual teaching sessions), or where full text was unobtainable.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Data extraction and synthesis<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Data were extracted using a piloted charting form and analysed thematically to identify recurring patterns across studies. Basic numerical data were collected to describe study characteristics.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Of 1067 records screened, 30 studies met inclusion criteria. Most were cross-sectional surveys, with a strong representation from surgical and craft specialties. Four themes were identified: (1) impact on career development (including concerns about career delays and shifts in aspirations); (2) impact on trainee progression (highlighting delays due to ARCP outcomes 10.1\/10.2 and reduced procedure accreditation); (3) changes in teaching and learning (such as a shift to online learning and cancelled rotations) and (4) supervision and support (revealing mixed experiences, with reports of burnout and inadequate organisational guidance). The systemic impact was uneven across specialties and training stages.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>National-level changes mitigated immediate educational disruptions but are beginning to reveal long-term consequences for career development, workforce planning and trainee well-being, highlighting the need for resilient and equitable future frameworks.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-099766","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,8]],"date-time":"2025-05-08T01:30:34Z","timestamp":1746667834000},"page":"e099766","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Changes to national postgraduate medical education during COVID-19: a scoping review of practice and impact within the UK"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9334-0922","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Megan E L","family":"Brown","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0419-694X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gabrielle","family":"Finn","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Manchester, Manchester, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4687-7556","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bryan","family":"Burford","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Gillian","family":"Vance","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"652","DOI":"10.1007\/s13312-020-1894-7","article-title":"Medical Education Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic","volume":"57","author":"Sahi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Indian Pediatr"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.2","first-page":"278","article-title":"Publishing during COVID\u201019: Lessons for health professions education research","volume":"55","author":"Eva","year":"2021","journal-title":"Med Educ (Chicago Ill)"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1080\/10872981.2022.2139657","article-title":"Beyond COVID-19: the impact of recent pandemics on medical students and their education: a scoping review","volume":"28","author":"Bughrara","year":"2023","journal-title":"Med Educ Online"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/postgradmedj-2021-140032"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2021-059397","article-title":"Factors affecting the UK junior doctor workforce retention crisis: an integrative review","volume":"12","author":"Lock","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare11212902","article-title":"Education and training adaptations for health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review of lessons learned and innovations","volume":"11","author":"Boutros","year":"2023","journal-title":"Healthcare (Basel)"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12960-023-00799-4"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.8","unstructured":"Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans of the United Kingdom (COPMED) . A reference guide for postgraduate foundation and specialty training in the UK: gold guide. 9th edn.2022. Available: https:\/\/www.copmed.org.uk\/images\/docs\/gold-guide-9thedition\/Gold-Guide-9th-Edition-August-2022.pdf"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.9","unstructured":"RCGP . Introducing the SCA. 2023. Available: https:\/\/www.rcgp.org.uk\/mrcgp-exams\/simulated-consultation-assessment\/introduction"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.10","unstructured":"Health Education England . COVID19 and annual reviews of competency progression for specialty training programmes 2020\/21: supplementary guidance for trainees and HEE PGME local teams. 2020. Available: https:\/\/madeinheene.hee.nhs.uk\/Portals\/0\/ARCP%20supplementary%20guidance%20-%20Nov%2020.pdf"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.11","unstructured":"Health Education England, NHS Education Scotland, Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency, Health Education and Improvement Wales . Supporting the COVID-19 response: enabling progression at ARCP. 2020."},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.12","unstructured":"Statutory Education Bodies . Supporting the COVID-19 response and enabling progression at ARCP. Health Education England; 2020. Available: https:\/\/www.hee.nhs.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/Supporting%20the%20COVID19%20response%20and%20enabling%20progression%20at%20ARCP.pdf"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/1364557032000119616"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7326\/M18-0850"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Terry G , Hayfield N , Clarke V , et al . Thematic analysis. In: The SAGE handbook of qualitative research in psychology. 2nd edn. 2017: 17\u201337.","DOI":"10.4135\/9781526405555.n2"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/flgastro-2021-101965"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e253","DOI":"10.7861\/clinmed.2020-0592","article-title":"COVID-19: The impacts on foundation training in district general hospitals in the East of England and the East Midlands","volume":"20","author":"Sasitharan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Clin Med (Lond)"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"676","DOI":"10.1302\/2633-1462.111.BJO-2020-0095.R1","article-title":"The role of orthopaedic trainees during the COVID-19 pandemic and impact on post-graduate orthopaedic education: a four-nation survey of over 100 orthopaedic trainees","volume":"1","author":"Gonzi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Bone Jt Open"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"291","DOI":"10.7861\/fhj.2022-0054","article-title":"Shielding during medical training: an exploration of effects, consequences and best practices","volume":"9","author":"Slater","year":"2022","journal-title":"Future Healthc J"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1111\/tct.13667","article-title":"Educational impact of COVID-19 on foundation doctors and the decision to take a break from structured approved training programmes in the United Kingdom","volume":"21","author":"Kilday","year":"2024","journal-title":"Clin Teach"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"538","DOI":"10.1111\/anae.15660","article-title":"Recruitment to higher specialty training in anaesthesia in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey","volume":"77","author":"Subramaniam","year":"2022","journal-title":"Anaesthesia"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsurg.2020.09.009"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/archdischild-2020-321151"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e331","DOI":"10.1016\/j.surge.2021.02.007","article-title":"Collaborative Overview of coronaVIrus impact on ORTHopaedic training in the UK (COVI - ORTH UK)","volume":"19","author":"Jayatilaka","year":"2021","journal-title":"Surgeon"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105903","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijsu.2021.105903","article-title":"COVID-19 impact on Surgical Training and Recovery Planning (COVID-STAR) - A cross-sectional observational study","volume":"88","author":"Clements","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Surg"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1119","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsurg.2024.05.003","article-title":"The impact of the covid-19 pandemic on annual review of competency progression outcomes issued to general surgical trainees","volume":"81","author":"Barter","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Surg Educ"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"69","DOI":"10.52054\/FVVO.14.1.007","article-title":"The impact of COVID-19 on O&G trainees; where are we now?","volume":"14","author":"Duggan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Facts Views Vis Obgyn"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"980","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jtcvs.2020.05.052","article-title":"Impact of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) on training and well-being in subspecialty surgery: a national survey of cardiothoracic trainees in the United Kingdom","volume":"160","author":"Caruana","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1633","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bjps.2021.02.002","article-title":"The effect of COVID-19 on higher plastic surgery training in the UK: A national survey of impact and damage limitation","volume":"74","author":"Ibrahim","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1308\/rcsfdj.2020.124","article-title":"Impact of COVID-19 on dental specialty training in the UK: the trainee perspective","volume":"12","author":"Wanis","year":"2021","journal-title":"Fac Dent J"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"877","DOI":"10.1016\/j.crad.2020.07.022","article-title":"Impact of COVID-19 on UK radiology training: a questionnaire study","volume":"75","author":"Veerasuri","year":"2020","journal-title":"Clin Radiol"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1455","DOI":"10.1080\/01443615.2021.2002286","article-title":"The effect of the measures taken during the coronavirus pandemic on specialty trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology in the United Kingdom: an online questionnaire survey in one region","volume":"42","author":"Elghobashy","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Obstet Gynaecol"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chua EP , Tan Y , Mercer LK , et al . OA03\u2003Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rheumatology training: results of the regional survey from the North West of England. Rheumatology (Sunnyvale) 2022;61. doi:10.1093\/rheumatology\/keac132.002","DOI":"10.1093\/rheumatology\/keac132.002"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"549","DOI":"10.1016\/j.crad.2021.03.013","article-title":"Impact of COVID-19 on radiology training: Royal College of Radiologists Junior Radiologists Forum national survey","volume":"76","author":"Fossey","year":"2021","journal-title":"Clin Radiol"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.1308\/rcsbull.2021.11","article-title":"Impact of COVID-19 on UK orthopaedic training","volume":"103","author":"Bodansky","year":"2021","journal-title":"Bull R Coll Surg Engl"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e13","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bja.2023.03.018","article-title":"Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on anaesthesia training, recruitment, and examinations: a survey of UK trainees","volume":"131","author":"Jarvis","year":"2023","journal-title":"Br J Anaesth"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"749","DOI":"10.1016\/j.crad.2022.07.005","article-title":"A national survey investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on core and higher breast radiology training in the UK","volume":"77","author":"Carpenter","year":"2022","journal-title":"Clin Radiol"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"527","DOI":"10.1111\/medu.14738","article-title":"An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of paediatric cardiology trainee experiences during COVID-19","volume":"56","author":"Quyam","year":"2022","journal-title":"Med Educ"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"678","DOI":"10.1177\/03915603231189315","article-title":"How has Covid-19 impacted the training of Urology trainees in South Wales?","volume":"90","author":"Rashid","year":"2023","journal-title":"Urologia"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"529","DOI":"10.1093\/pubmed\/fdac130","article-title":"Training during the COVID-19 pandemic: the experience of public health registrars in the London and Kent, Surrey, Sussex training programme","volume":"45","author":"Hall","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Public Health (Oxf)"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1093\/rap\/rkac001","article-title":"The impact of COVID-19 on rheumatology training-results from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance trainee survey","volume":"6","author":"Young","year":"2022","journal-title":"Rheumatol Adv Pract"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"391","DOI":"10.1017\/S0022215121000840","article-title":"ENT trainees\u2019 experience of redeployment during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a qualitative study","volume":"135","author":"Lion","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Laryngol Otol"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e5","DOI":"10.7861\/fhj.2020-0026","article-title":"What was the impact of COVID-19 on the foundation training programme in north Wales?","volume":"8","author":"Prince","year":"2021","journal-title":"Future Healthc J"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1111\/tct.13685","article-title":"Experiences of junior doctors who shielded during the COVID-19 pandemic","volume":"21","author":"Martin","year":"2024","journal-title":"Clin Teach"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.52054\/FVVO.13.1.004"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"295","DOI":"10.5694\/mja2.50996","article-title":"Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the career of junior doctors","volume":"214","author":"Johnston","year":"2021","journal-title":"Med J Aust"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"370","DOI":"10.1136\/pmj-2022-142099","article-title":"Medical registrar bottleneck","volume":"99","author":"Beard","year":"2023","journal-title":"Postgrad Med J"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.p1732"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"681","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.p681","article-title":"Time is running out to resolve the NHS workforce crisis","volume":"380","author":"Dobson","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.50","unstructured":"Vance G , Brown M , Burford B , et al . Evaluating the wider impacts of changes to UK medical education in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Newcastle University, University of Manchester; 2023. Available: https:\/\/www.gmc-uk.org\/-\/media\/documents\/evaluating-the-wider-impacts-of-changes-to-uk-medical-education-in-response-to-the-covid-1-105541118.pdf"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1093\/bmb\/ldae002","article-title":"Mind the implementation gap: a systems analysis of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan to increase the number of doctors trained in the UK raises many questions","volume":"150","author":"Geary","year":"2024","journal-title":"Br Med Bull"},{"key":"2025121400523710000_15.5.e099766.52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.p1535"}],"container-title":["BMJ Open"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-099766","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,14]],"date-time":"2025-12-14T08:52:46Z","timestamp":1765702366000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bmjopen.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-099766"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,5]]},"references-count":52,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,7]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,5]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-099766"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-099766","relation":{},"ISSN":["2044-6055","2044-6055"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2044-6055","type":"print"},{"value":"2044-6055","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,5]]}}}