Me. Kuffel et al., REACTIONS OF RESIDENCY DIRECTORS TO PRIMARY-CARE REQUIREMENTS IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY TRAINING, Obstetrics and gynecology, 91(1), 1998, pp. 145-148
Objective: To determine the opinions of obstetrics and gynecology resi
dency program directors regarding the Residency Review Committee manda
te, requires 6 months of primary care training in obstetrics and gynec
ology. Methods: A ten-question survey was mailed to the 272 accredited
obstetrics and gynecology programs in the United States and Puerto Ri
co. Program directors were asked about the adequacy of 6 months of pri
mary care training, whether educational deficiencies in obstetrics and
gynecology will develop as a result of the mandate, and whether resid
ency programs should be lengthened to encompass primary care. Results:
The response rate for the survey was 92.3% (251/272). University-affi
liated, community, and military-based programs were surveyed and all g
eographic areas of the country were represented. Of program directors
responding, 53.4% agreed with the mandate, 43.0% disagreed, and 3.6% d
eclined to answer this question or both agreed and disagreed. Fifty-on
e percent considered 6 months of primary care training to be adequate,
and 60.2% of program directors thought that educational deficiencies
would develop in obstetrics and gynecology training programs. Whereas
66.1% responded that extension of obstetrics and gynecology training p
rograms beyond 4 years was unnecessary, 32.7% thought program length s
hould be increased. Conclusion: The results of this survey demonstrate
that a substantial proportion of U.S. residency directors do not agre
e with the Residency Review Committee mandate for primary care trainin
g and think that deficiencies in obstetrics and gynecology training wi
ll develop as a result of these changes.