Purpose: To understand the impact various factors have on the likelihood patients will consent to medical student involvement in gynecologic care.
Background: A patient’s consent to medical student involvement in gynecologic care is critical; autonomy should be respected. Conversely, pairing students with patients who are willing to involve them is necessary for students to gain experience.
Methods: A survey collecting patient demographics, preferences for student involvement, and reasoning behind their preferences was administered across general & specialty OB/GYN clinics at a large, academic medical institution.
Results: 214 patients completed the survey. 11.2% of patients declined any student participation while 29.4% declined participation in only the physical exam. The most common reasons given by patients when declining participation were concern for their privacy and discomfort from student performance of exams at 33.9% (n= 43) and 14.2% (n= 18), respectively. 3% of declines were due to perceived increased risk of contracting COVID-19. Patient age, race, language (English or Spanish), and clinic-type were not significantly associated with differences in the percent of patients who declined students; however, these factors were differentially associated with the reasons patients declined.
Discussions: The data suggest that multiple clinic types may be acceptable for trainees. Younger patients may be less likely to decline a male student than older patients. Optimizing a sense of privacy and taking steps to ensure patient comfort may aid medical educators in optimizing student learning.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2022, Student, Resident, Faculty, Clerkship Director, Clerkship Coordinator, Osteopathic Faculty, Residency Director, Residency Coordinator, Patient Care, Systems-Based Practice & Improvement, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, Practice-Based Learning & Improvement, UME, Assessment, Quality & Safety, Advocacy,
Adam Schettler, MD, University of Virginia School of Medicine; Zoe Roecker, BS; Jack Borucki, BS; Vanessa Gregg, MD; Katherine Latimer, MD
