Gynecologic oncologists' perceptions of fellowship training.

OBJECTIVE

To determine fellowship satisfaction through a survey of practicing gynecologic oncologists.

STUDY DESIGN

A survey was sent to all candidate members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists listed in the 2000 directory. Surveys were returned anonymously and confidentially. Questions focused on demographics, research, clinical opportunity and educational experience, satisfaction with fellowship training and career choice. Associations between variables were studied using chi2 and two-tailed t tests.

RESULTS

Of the surveys sent, 47.1% (71/156) were returned. Average time out of fellowship was 3.6 years, 94.6% were currently performing research, and 47.3% did not publish their basic science research as a fellow, with 20.3% citing lack of mentorship as the main reason. Clinically, hands-on experience and faculty involvement were the top areas influencing surgical training during fellowship. Surgical, chemotherapy and radiation therapy training was adequate according to 90.5%, 94.6%, and 98.6%, respectively. Of those surveyed, 86.5% recommended a statistics course, and 81.5% recommended didactics specific to fellows; however, only 59.5% had received such teaching. Of the respondents, 44.6% and 40.8% had an opportunity to evaluate their fellowship and attending staff, respectively, as compared to 70.8% receiving routine performance evaluations (p = 0.001 and 0.0003, respectively); 98.6% and 89.2% were satisfied and recommended their fellowships. The areas of greatest satisfaction were surgical training and clinical experience. The areas of least satisfaction were didactics, basic science and clinical research. In all, 95.9% were satisfied with their career choice.

CONCLUSION

Areas in which fellowship satisfaction could improve are formal didactics and improved mentoring in research. Fellowship and faculty evaluations could provide a forum to continue to improve training programs. Respondents thought that they were sufficiently trained and were satisfied with their career choice.