Seasonal variation in medical student experience in an obstetrics and gynecology clerkship.
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.
Schneider
Karen M
KM
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
Landen
Donna A
DA
Monga
Manju
M
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