Impact of a Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Curriculum on an Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine the effectiveness of a new pediatric and adolescent gynecology (PAG) curriculum for improving obstetrics/gynecology resident physician knowledge and comfort level in patient management and to describe the current deficiencies in resident physician knowledge and comfort level in PAG.

DESIGN

A PAG curriculum was implemented for the obstetrics/gynecology resident physicians (n = 20) at the University of South Florida in July 2013. Before and after the curriculum was introduced, resident physicians and recent graduates of the residency program completed a survey to assess their comfort level and a knowledge assessment consisting of 20 case-based questions.

SETTING

University-based residency program.

PARTICIPANTS

Resident physicians and recent resident physician graduates in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

INTERVENTIONS

Introduction of a PAG curriculum during the 2013-2014 academic year.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Improvement in resident physicians' comfort level and knowledge in PAG.

RESULTS

After the curriculum was introduced, comfort increased in examining the genitals of a pediatric gynecology patient (median difference = 1.5; P = .003) and history-taking, physical examination skills, and management (median difference = 1; P = .002) compared with before the curriculum. There was no significant difference in overall quiz score (15.5 ± 1.87 vs 15.8 ± 1.3; P = .78).

CONCLUSION

A curriculum in PAG did improve resident comfort level in managing PAG patients, but did not significantly improve knowledge of this topic.