Purpose: To
explore third year medical students’ fund of knowledge and attitudes about
LGBTQ family building and third party reproduction.
Background: Medical student knowledge and attitudes about family building for LGBTQ
families and third party reproduction (TPR) varies based on student prior
experience and pre-clinical teaching.
The OBGYN clerkship is a unique opportunity for students to learn
medical knowledge and reflect on attitudes about this subject.
Methods: A quantitative study of knowledge and attitude among third year medical
students done after IRB approval. The intervention consisted of a one hour
lecture on TPR and participating in a group discussion about LGBTQ family
building. Students (231) completed a survey asking about their knowledge and
attitudes prior to starting the rotation and 178 completed the survey following
the intervention. Survey respondents rated items using a Likert scale and
completed a knowledge assessmented. Changes in knowledge scores were investigated
using t-tests.
Results: Survey respondents were 51% female, 48% male, 1% gender non-conforming;
heterosexual 93%; and partnered 59%. Comfort with same sex couples was endorsed
by 92%. 56% of students felt that opting out of assisting a patient with family
building was not an option. Fertility knowledge increased from after
intervention significantly (p<0.0001). Some students, 29%, thought that infertility was hard to discuss,
but 67% felt it would be hard to discuss for same sex couples.
Discussions: Medical
students’ fund of knowledge was increased with lecture and small group
discussion about TPR and LGBTQ patients. Students report being comfortable with
TPR and LGBTQ families but have some discomfort with varied pathways to
parenthood. Most feel that opting out of care for LGBTQ families is not an
option.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2018, Student, Faculty, Clerkship Director, Medical Knowledge, Professionalism, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, UME, Lecture, Advocacy, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Sexuality,
Katherine Lackritz, MD
