title: Perceptions of operating room learning experiences during the obstetrics and gynecology clerkship.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is little published describing curriculum development for the medical student in the operating room (OR).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Explore student and faculty perceptions of learning experiences in the OR during the Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob/Gyn) clerkship as a prelude to defining OR-specific learning objectives and curriculum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourth year students and Obstetrics and Gynecology faculty participated in structured, audiotaped focus groups aimed at defining OR educational objectives and curriculum content. Review of audiotapes identified emergent themes used to categorize perceived learning experiences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two focus groups including 13 students and 1 focus group including 5 faculty were conducted. Four dominant categories of OR learning were identified: (1) development of a foundation of clinical knowledge; (2) surgical technique and skill acquisition; (3) personal insight into career choice; and (4) surgical culture and OR functioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Students and faculty were aligned regarding general categories of key OR learning experiences, building an experiential framework for developing OR-specific learning objectives and curricular components.
authors.affiliation: Alpert Medical School of Brown University/Women and Infants' Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI 02905, USA. bhampton@wihri.org
authors.forename: Brittany Star
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Hampton
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Magrane
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D003479:Curriculum; D017144:Focus Groups; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000191:economics*; D009873:Operating Rooms; D016730:Program Development; D012237:Rhode Island; D013337:Students, Medical