A Needs Assessment Report for Development of an Obstetrics and Gynecology Skills Elective

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We completed a needs assessment for obstetrics and gynecology exam and procedural skills to inform a 4th-year exam and procedural skills elective. METHODS: We surveyed 4th-year medical students matching in ob-gyn and junior ob-gyn residents about what skills should be included in a 4th-year procedure elective. We created a 15-question survey of ob-gyn exam and procedural skills using APGO Medical Student Educational Objectives and Year One Milestones, with answers on a Likert scale. RESULTS: Ten (7%) 4th-year medical students who matched into ob-gyn residency and 18 (48%) ob-gyn residents at the University of Colorado completed the survey. They identified basic ultrasound skills (96%), postoperative care (96%), and surgical preparation (93%) as the most valuable procedural skills to include in a 4th-year medical school elective for students entering into an obstetrics and gynecology residency. The procedural skills with the lowest support for to inclusion in an elective were hysteroscopy (32%), laparoscopy (43%), and colposcopy (61%). CONCLUSION: Students entering ob-gyn and junior ob-gyn residents desire training in ultrasound skills, basic surgical preparation, and postoperative care education over more complex ob-gyn procedural skills before residency. We will use these results to create a 4th-year medical student elective that includes these skills.