Effect of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical School Clerkship on Career Choice by Gender [8H]

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the third year core clerkship in Obstetrics and Gynecology on the future career choice of male and female medical students by gender. METHODS: Anonymous online surveys were administered to 3rd year medical students both at the start and the conclusion of their 8 week core clerkship in Obstetrics and Gynecology. The surveys consisted of the same nineteen questions in both the pre- and post-clerkship surveys. Pre-clerkship responses were compared to the post-clerkship responses to see trends, and finally the responses were analyzed by gender. RESULTS: Between June 2014 and September 2015 a total of 100 (46 women, 54 male) students completed the pre-clerkship survey. For the same period a total of 76, (33 women, 43 male) students completed the post-clerkship survey. Data analysis revealed statistical significance between the responses of the male vs the female students after the clerkship for the following questions: 1) How important is being a patient advocate to you? (P=.040) 2) How important is women's health to you? (P=.009) 3) I believe OB/GYN offers a high quality of life? (P=.003). CONCLUSION: Our data shows that preconceived ideas regarding a career in OB/GYN may exist by gender and that the introduction of the core clerkship in OB/GYN during 3rd year medical school may impact medical students differently by gender with respect patient advocacy, women's health, and quality of life. This leads to current trends in gender based selection of OB/GYN as a career.