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Adding in Support Beams: The Addition of Near-Peer Teaching Assistants to an OB/GYN Clerkship

Purpose: Evaluate the OBGYN-clerkship student experience with TAs and the TA experience.

 

Background: Amidst the chaos of the COVID pandemic, clerkships were forced to find innovative ways to support students. We piloted, then continued, a near-peer mentor Teaching Assistant(TA) program. TAs helped facilitate didactic sessions and worked closely to support students in navigating both the process and the content of the clerkship.

 

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of TAs(2019-2022) and medical students(2020-22), after IRB-approval. An anonymous survey was developed by subject matter experts, vetted for clarity by education team, and sent to TAs annually, inquiring about TA experiences and perception of student experiences. Student feedback on the TAs also qualitatively analyzed. Simple statistics used to analyze data.

 

Results: Feedback from 17(100%) TAs and 90(43%) students included in analysis. From the TA perspective, 100% of TAs rated the experience positively, describing it as improving their knowledge(100%), teaching skills(87%), organization(73%), and facilitation skills(87%).  80% felt more confident going into their sub-internship, and for 86% it solidified desire to pursue OBGYN. Nearly all(93%) would recommend being a TA to another medical student.
 
Students overwhelmingly appreciated having TAs, with 100% of comments being positive in nature. Common themes included TAs being: generally great([n=60]66%), helpful([n=30]33%), engaged/responsive([n=25]28%), and enhancing student learning([n=22]24%).

 

Discussions: The addition of near-peer TAs to an OB/GYN clerkship was regarded as very positive by students, TAs, and clerkship leadership. During high stress times, programs such as this further support our learners.

Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2023, Student, Clerkship Director, Clerkship Coordinator, Medical Knowledge, Professionalism, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, UME, Problem-Based Learning, General Ob-Gyn,

General Information


Intended
Audience
Student,Clerkship Director,Clerkship Coordinator,
Competencies
Addressed
Medical Knowledge,Professionalism,Interpersonal & Communication Skills,
Educational
Continuum
UME,
Educational
Focus
Problem-Based Learning,
Clinical Focus
General Ob-Gyn,

Author Information

Elizabeth Howell, MD; Duke University Medical Center; Mary Katherine Montes De Oca, MD; Cescille Gesher, BS; Jennifer Howell, MD; Matthew Barber, MD; Sarah Dotters-Katz, MD, MMHPE

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