title: Psychosomatics in obstetrics and gynecology - evaluation of a compulsory standardized teaching program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This observational study was aimed at assessing the effect of case supervision in small groups over a two-year period as part of a standardized psychosomatic basic training for future obstetrician-gynecologists from the physicians' perspective.
  
  
  METHODS
  The supervised groups were evaluated by questionnaires distributed to all 128 candidates at the beginning (T1), at half time (T2) and at the end of the course (T3). Aside from a validated battery of questions on self-efficacy, items included self-estimated psychosomatic competence, professional satisfaction as well as a validation of the training program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The training program was associated with a significant increase of self-reported psychosomatic competence (55.0/68.9, p = 0.000) and self-efficacy (2.4/2.8, p = 0.0011). While major changes occurred at the end of the first year of the supervised groups, no further enhancement could be demonstrated throughout the second year. A total of 44 (88%) study participants who answered at T3 considered the training program as helpful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presented teaching program - more precisely the supervised groups - seemed to be effective in increasing self-estimated psychosomatic competence and self-efficacy in future specialists for obstetrics and gynecology. It may serve as a model for the systematic integration of standardized psychosomatic basic training into the education of obstetrician-gynecologists.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. sibil.tschudin@usb.ch
authors: Sibil
authors: S
authors: Tschudin
authors: Zuzana
authors: Z
authors: Kaplan
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Alder
authors: Dorothy
authors: D
authors: Huang
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Bitzer
authors: Brigitte
authors: B
authors: Leeners
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011611:Psychosomatic Medicine / Q000193:education*; D020377:Self Efficacy