Abstract
Purpose
Determine baseline clinical skills of medical students entering the Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) clerkship with prior clinical curricular exposure.
Background
Students are introduced to clinical correlates sooner in the preclinical curriculum to facilitate adult learning. There are few studies determining clerkship-specific clinical skills readiness in OB/GYN, a specialty with historically limited previous exposure.
Methods
An anonymous 15-question clinical readiness survey (1–5 Likert scale) was administered to medical students during their OB/GYN Orientation at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio over four academic years, 2014–2018, to determine baseline OB/GYN clinical skill knowledge and confidence. Statistical analysis included Spearman rank correlation and Kruskal-Wallis tests, with significance defined as p < 0.05.
Results
The survey was completed by 346 students (77% participation). Overall, students felt most confident in knot tying skills (17%) and closed gloving technique (7%) and least confident in knowledge of labor curve (86%), Leopold’s maneuvers (88%), and Montevideo units (MVU) (90%). Confidence in performing closed gloving (4% vs. 11%, p < 0.01) and tying knots (8% vs. 27%, p < 0.01) was significantly higher during rotations later in the academic year. Students who expressed a higher level of interest felt more prepared for the clerkship (rs = 0.21, p < 0.01).
Discussion
Results indicate that confidence in obstetric-specific clinical skills is relatively low throughout the academic year; however, baseline surgical skills show improvement. It is important for teaching faculty to know baseline clinical skills of the medical student with earlier clinical exposure to enhance adult learning and optimize clinical competency. In medical students receiving earlier clinical exposure, confidence in baseline obstetric-specific clinical skill is relatively low throughout the academic year. Confidence in general surgical skills demonstrates improvement over the academic year.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
MS Knowles, E Holton, R Swanson. The adult learner. Gulf Publishing Co. 1998.
Kaufman DM. ABC of learning and teaching in medicine: applying educational theory in practice. BMJ. 2003;326(7382):213–6.
Lam TP, Irwin M, Chow LW, Chan P. Early introduction of clinical skills teaching in a medical curriculum--factors affecting students’ learning. Med Educ. 2002;36(3):233–40.
Schon DA. Educating the reflective practitioner: toward a new design for teaching and learning in the professions. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass; 1987.
Whipple ME, Barlow CB, Smith S, Goldstein EA. Early introduction of clinical skills improves medical student comfort at the start of third-year clerkships. Acad Med. 2006;81(10):40–3.
Jackson MB, Keen M, Wenrich MD, Schaad DC, Robins L, Goldstein EA. Impact of a pre-clinical clinical skills curriculum on student performance in third-year clerkships. J Gen Intern Med. 2009;24(8):929–33.
Wenrich M, Jackson MB, Scherpbier AJ, Wolfhagen IH, Ramsey PG, Goldstein EA. Ready or not? Expectations of faculty and medical students for clinical skills preparation for clerkships. Med Educ Online. 2010;15(1):5295.
Kossoff EH, Hubbard TW, Gowen CW Jr. Early clinical experience enhances third-year pediatrics clerkship performance. Acad Med. 1999;74(11):1238–41.
Held MR, Gibbs K, Lewin LO, Weinstein AR. Do pre-clinical experiences adequately prepare students for their pediatrics clerkship: a needs assessment to inform curricular development. Med Sci Educ. 2017;1-7
Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO). Medical student educational objectives, 10th edition. https://www.apgo.org/educational-resources/apgo-medical-student-educational-objectives/. Accessed 28 March 2019.
Acknowledgments
Stephanie Hernandez, MS, for statistical guidance.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical Approval
This retrospective study of anonymous survey data was reviewed by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and designated EXEMPT.
Informed Consent
n/a
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nelson, E., Ireland, K. & Krapf, J.M. Baseline Clinical Skill of Medical Students Entering the Obstetrics and Gynecology Core Clinical Clerkship. Med.Sci.Educ. 31, 59–65 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-020-01091-z
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-020-01091-z