title: Awareness of infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology among residents and residency directors.
abstract: Awareness of the subspecialty of infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology is low among United States residents and residency directors. Objective. Given the burden of infectious diseases on women's health, we sought to assess current awareness, interest, and perceived value of the subspecialty of infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology among current United States obstetrics and gynecology residents and residency directors. Methods. Two separate surveys addressing awareness, perceived value and interest in the subspecialty were sent to (1) a random 20% sample of obstetrics and gynecology residents and (2) all obstetrics and gynecology residency directors. Results. Seventy percent of the residency directors were familiar with the subspecialty and 67.0% placed value on infectious disease specialists in an academic department. Thirty percent of the residents reported awareness of the subspecialty. Thirty-six percent of residency directors reported that medical infectious disease specialists deliver formal education to the obstetrics and gynecology residents. Conclusion. United States obstetrics and gynecology residents and residency directors have a low awareness of the subspecialty. An open niche exists for formal education of residents in infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology by department specialists. These findings can be incorporated into ongoing recruitment efforts for the subspecialty of infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Beigi
authors.forename: Galen E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Switzer
authors.forename: Larraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Presley
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Soper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003141:Communicable Diseases; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires