Factors affecting fellowship satisfaction among gynecologic oncology fellows

Objective. The objective of this study was to determine fellowship satisfac tion through a survey of gynecologic oncology fellows. Methods. A survey was sent to all gynecologic oncology fellows in May 1998, Surveys were returned anonymously and confidentially. The questions focuse d on demographics, research and clinical experience, education, faculty inv olvement, future plans, and fellowship satisfaction. Association between va riables were studied using chi (2) and two-tailed t tests. Results. Of the surveys 53.8% were returned. Reputation, faculty, and clini cal diversity were ranked the top three reasons for choosing a fellowship p rogram. Eighty-seven and three-tenths percent were satisfied and 89.1% woul d recommend their fellowship. Fellows listed the two areas they were most s atisfied with as surgical training and research support. Seventy-nine and f our-tenths percent agreed they spent adequate time in the operating room an d 94.1% had enough variety. Sixty percent or more of the clinical fellows f elt they would be uncomfortable performing vaginal radical hysterectomies, splenectomies, radical vaginectomies, laparoscopic lymph node dissection (L ND), scalene LND, skin grafts, creation of neovagina, tram flaps, and urete rovaginal fistula repairs by the end of their fellowship. Of the fellows su rveyed, 94.7% were currently performing research. All believed they would f inish their thesis by the end of their training. Thirty percent of fellows from Gynecologic Oncology Group institutions were not required to participa te in their research trials. Among the clinical fellows 62.2% thought time for self-education was lacking compared with 35.3% of the research fellows, P = 0.07. The two areas fellows were least satisfied with were didactics a nd lack of time for other pursuits. Performance evaluations were received b y 72.2%; however, evaluations of the program and of the attending staff occ urred in only 51.3 and 34.0%, respectively. Sixty-seven and three-tenths pe rcent stated they had a mentor and 34.0% an advisor. Fellows that did not h ave mentors or advisors thought they spent less time with faculty in educat ional pursuits (P = 0.03, 0.06), Conclusion. Areas that could improve fellowship satisfaction include formal didactics and time for self-education. Evaluations of the fellowship and f aculty could provide a forum to continue to assess their needs, Requiring a more active role of fellows in research trials may prove to increase resea rch productivity in the future, (C) 2001 Academic Press.