Purpose: This study investigates national medical school policies for pelvic exams under anesthesia (EUA) during OB/GYN clerkships. Our goal is to determine the prevalence and specific content of pelvic EUA policies.
Background: Contemporary media has highlighted problems with consent for pelvic EUA. When asked, medical students want clearer policies regarding pelvic EUA.
Methods: We surveyed OB/GYN clerkship directors through the APGO Clerkship Directors listserv. Seventeen survey items and one free-text question investigate policies related to medical students performing pelvic EUA, consent, and knowledge of legislation. Descriptive data will be analyzed using Stata version 16.0.
Results: We have received 53 responses (27%) with the survey open seven days and reminders ongoing for 30 days. 98% of programs reported medical students perform pelvic EUA and 94% reported students are informed about the policy. Of those programs, 87% reported patients are consented for pelvic EUA. 100% of respondents reported students have other opportunities to perform pelvic exams and 78% believed it is important that students perform pelvic EUA. Only 40% of respondents were aware of legislation requiring consent for pelvic EUA.
Discussions: While pelvic EUA are commonly performed by medical students, explicit consent is not universal. All respondents indicated that medical students have other opportunities to perform pelvic exams. Only a minority of clerkship directors were aware of legislation requiring consent for pelvic EUA. These results indicate a need for improved policies surrounding consent for pelvic EUA, and possibly for re-examination of their role in medical student education.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2023, Student, Faculty, Clerkship Director, Clerkship Coordinator, Patient Care, Professionalism, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, CME, UME, Quality & Safety, Advocacy,
Abigail Kempf, BA; Harvard Medical School; Andrea Pelletier, MPH, MS; Deborah Bartz, MD, MPH; Natasha Johnson, MD;
