Primary care in obstetrics and gynecology resident education: a baseline survey of residents’ perceptions and experiences

Abstract

Objective: To determine the perceptions and practices of American obstetrics and gynecology residents concerning primary care immediately before the institution of Residency Review Committee Special Requirements for Obstetrics and Gynecology. Methods: The Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology In-Service Examination in 1995, given to 4361 residents, who represented all programs in the country, included a questionnaire on whether obstetrics and gynecology was primary care and whether they planned to do primary care after residency. Primary care services were categorized by counseling and screening, as defined by the U.S. Preventive Health Services Task Force. Variables included gender, residency level (upper or lower), and type of residency (community or university based). Data were analyzed using the χ 2 text and multiple analyses of variance. Results: The response rate was 94% (4099 of 4361), representing a nationwide complement. Eighty-seven percent of the respondents believed that obstetrics and gynecology was primary care and 85% planned to practice accordingly after residency. Residents spend less than 25% of their time counseling on nongynecologic subjects and less than 25% of their time screening for nongynecologic entities, so their perception as primary care providers focused on traditional obstetric and gynecologic counseling and screening services. When assessments were made by gender, level of training, and type of residency, significant differences were found in many variables regarding counseling and screening practices. Conclusion: Our survey results suggest that most American obstetrics and gynecology residents consider obstetrics and gynecology primary care but that there were limitations in the educational venues for learning about nongynecologic primary care before the implementation of the Residency Review Committee Special Requirements. Improvement in nongynecologic primary care teaching is a reasonable expectation because residency programs have had 3 years to institute the mandated changes and provide it to residents.