Medical Student Education in Abortion Care: A Survey of Exposure, Knowledge and Attitudes Among NYC Medical Students [9I

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: To assess the impact of Ryan Residency Programs on New York City (NYC) medical student exposure to, knowledge of, and attitudes towards abortion services following their clerkship in OBGYN. METHODS: An online survey of medical student exposure to, knowledge of, and attitudes towards abortion was created. The APGO educational objectives for abortion were used to develop knowledge questions. ACGME and Ryan Residency Program websites were used to identify medical schools and presence of Ryan programs at each clerkship site. Clerkships directors distributed the survey to students at the completion of their OBGYN clerkships. Data was evaluated using χ2 tests for categorical responses and multivariate analysis to control for confounding variables. RESULTS: 5/6 medical schools with M.D. candidacy in NYC participated. 169 students completed the survey. 9/17 have Ryan programs. 43.2% reported routinely scheduled exposure to abortion services during the clerkship, with no difference between the Ryan and non-Ryan Program groups (p=0.10). Half (51.3%) of respondents failed the knowledge exam with no difference between the groups (p=1.0). Most students (94.8%) feel abortion should be available to women as a part of women's health care services, and that abortion is an important part of the medical school curriculum (87.8%). CONCLUSION: No significant difference in abortion-related knowledge, attitudes or exposure between NYC students completing clerkships at sites with and without a Ryan Residency Program. Overall, routine exposure to abortion was low, and knowledge was low. Despite this, most medical students favor including abortion education in the core medical school curriculum.