Background: Many
residents have limited knowledge about the surrounding local community and the
socioeconomic context of their patients. Providing structured means for
residents to interact with members of the community outside of the clinical
environment could be beneficial.
Methods: A survey
was sent to all residents in one OB/GYN residency assessing knowledge
of the local community and comfort with discussing reproductive health topics.
Residents paired with a local community organization and voluntarily led
educational sessions for adolescent youth about common reproductive health
topics. Residents who participated completed a post-program survey.
Results: Twenty-two
residents participated in the pre-program survey. Ten residents participated in
the program, seven completed the post-program survey. In the pre-program
survey, half of respondents felt either somewhat unconnected to or not at all
connected to the local community.
In the post-program survey, 85%
of respondents felt more connected to the community after the program.
Qualitative responses indicated participating in the program motivated
residents to reconsider how to explain medical topics and counsel patients.
Overall, residents who participated in the program appreciated the opportunity
to connect with local adolescents and were interested in participating in future
sessions.
Discussions: The relationship
between residents and local adolescents through guided classes on reproductive
health allowed residents to feel more connected to the local community and
change their clinical practice to better consider the social contexts of their
patients.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2019, Resident, Residency Director, Systems-Based Practice & Improvement, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, GME, Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology, Sexuality,
Samantha Margulies,
MD, Yale New Haven Hospital; Ryan Shields,
MD; Julia
Cron, MD
