title: Seasonal variation in medical student experience in an obstetrics and gynecology clerkship.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to determine whether the medical student clinical experience varies during the academic year.
  
  
  METHODS
  Third-year medical students completing their obstetrics and gynecology clerkship were asked to complete a questionnaire about their clinical experience. The survey evaluated their experience with examinations and procedures using Likert-scale responses. The study was approved by the local institutional review board.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 90.5% of the students completed the questionnaire. Statistically more procedures were performed in the middle and late time periods than early in the year. This included the number of cervical examinations (P < or = .001), speculum examinations (P < or = .05), delivery of placentas (P < or = .001) and partial delivery of infant with delivery of placenta (P < or = .01), partial repair of an episiotomy (P < or = .01), and number of ultrasounds (P < or = .05) performed by the students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For some obstetrical and gynecological procedures, student hands-on experience increased during mid- and late-year clerkship rotations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA. karen.m.schneider@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Donna A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Landen
authors.forename: Manju
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013513:Obstetric Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education*; D012621:Seasons; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires