Trainee Perspectives Regarding the Effect of the Supreme Court Decision on Obstetrics and Gynecology Training

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2024

Institution/Department

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Journal Title

Journal of women's health (2002)

MeSH Headings

Humans; Obstetrics (education); Gynecology (education); Internship and Residency; Female; United States; Surveys and Questionnaires; Adult; Supreme Court Decisions; Male; Clinical Competence; Education, Medical, Graduate; Women's Health (legislation & jurisprudence); Pregnancy; Accreditation

Abstract

We aimed to describe obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) trainees' anticipation of how the U.S. Supreme Court decision may affect their training. A REDCap survey of OBGYN residents and fellows in the United States from September 19, 2022, to December 1, 2022, queried trainees' anticipated achievement of relevant Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) training milestones, their concerns about the ability to provide care and concern about legal repercussions during training, and the importance of OBGYN competence in managing certain clinical situations for residency graduates. The primary outcome was an ACGME program trainee feeling uncertain or unable to obtain the highest level queried for a relevant ACGME milestone, including experiencing 20 abortion procedures in residency. We received 469 eligible responses; the primary outcome was endorsed by 157 respondents (33.5%). After correction for confounders, significant predictors of the primary outcome were state environment (aOR = 3.94 for pending abortion restrictions; aOR = 2.71 for current abortion restrictions), trainee type (aOR = 0.21 for fellow vs. resident), and a present or past Ryan Training Program in residency (aOR = 0.55). Although the vast majority of trainees believed managing relevant clinical situations are key to OBGYN competence, 10%-30% of trainees believed they would have to stop providing the standard of care in clinical situations during training. This survey of OBGYN trainees indicates higher uncertainty about achieving ACGME milestones and procedural competency in clinical situations potentially affected by the decision in states with legal restrictions on abortion.

First Page

908

Last Page

915

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