APGO

Nirupama K. De Silva University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, Tulsa, OK

Jennifer E. Dietrich MD, MSc, Amy E. Young, MD

Study objective: Formal teaching in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (PAG) is important for all medical students and residents. Education on the most basic aspects of normal and abnormal puberty and knowledge of common treatments for gynecologic abnormalities in the pediatric and adolescent population is included in the APGO and CREOG Objectives. The initial version of the PAGWebEd website was launched in April 2013, through funding from an unrestricted educational grant from APGO, with the goal of enhancing and promoting uniform and effective teaching in basic PAG. 20 cases on common topics in pediatric and adolescent gynecology were made available as a learning tool for medical students and residents in OB/GYN departments in the U.S. A survey was included after case review to determine effectiveness and usefulness of this site for the learner. Our objective was to determine if preliminary data confirmed that the PAGWebEd website is both effective and useful to the learner.

Methods: The survey consists of 16 questions assessing the background of the learner, their exposure to PAG in their training, and about their perceptions on the effectiveness of the PAGWebEd website to their learning PAG. 18 surveys have been completed and reviewed since initiation of the PAG website. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistical techniques.

Results: 38.9% of participants were 3rd and 4th year residents, 33.3% were 1st and 2nd year residents, 17.6% were faculty, and 11.1% were medical students. 61.1% of the surveys were completed by female providers. Participating U.S. training programs were located in the South (50%), Midwest (11.1%) and Northeast (38.9%). All participants agreed that the education and formal training in PAG is an important component for OBGYN residents, yet 66.7% noted that they have exposure <10% of the time and 75% of participants noted that they have a short PAG rotation (< 3 weeks) over the 4 years of training. Two-thirds of participants thought that the cases would alter how they handle a PAG case in the future.

Conclusions: Learning basic PAG via the PAGWebEd case-based system has allowed students and residents in training to enhance their knowledge in PAG and has allowed the majority of them to improve their care of pediatric gynecology patients in the future. Tools such as PAGWebEd will enhance education in basic PAG for all learners, especially those without access to formal clinical education in this area. The availability via the web allows for learning opportunities ad hoc, enhancing the accessibility of the learning platform.

Key words: Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Web-based learning, resident education.