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Tumelty ME, Spain E, Cheema A, Cinnamond K, Hannigan A, Sharma S, Cotter A. The impact of the current medico-legal and regulatory culture in Ireland on the decision of graduate entry medical school students to pursue a career in obstetrics and gynecology. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2024; 303:42-47. [PMID: 39413548 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2024] [Revised: 09/30/2024] [Accepted: 10/07/2024] [Indexed: 10/18/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Medico-legal and regulatory culture has a significant impact on medical practitioners, including the decision of graduates to enter high-risk specialties. This study explores the impact of the current medico-legal and regulatory culture in Ireland on the decision of graduate entry medical students to enter one high risk specialty, obstetrics and gynecology. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a survey of 146 final-year, graduate-entry medical students pre- and post- a 6-week rotation in obstetrics and gynecology in Ireland. Participants were asked to rate the influence (on a four-point scale) of factors such as fear of being sued, being reported to the regulatory body or criminal prosecution on their decision to pursue a career in obstetrics or gynaecology. Data were matched pre- and post-rotation and McNemar-Bowker's test was used to test for differences in related data. All analysis was conducted using SPSS for Windows version 25. RESULTS The responses of 72 students to both questionnaires could be matched (response rate 49.3%). The majority of participants pre-rotation reported that fear of being sued (74%), fear of being reported to the regulatory body (70%) and fear of criminal prosecution (55%) were factors influencing their decision (somewhat or to a great extent) to pursue a career in obstetrics. There were no significant changes post-rotation. Compared to obstetrics, lower proportions of participants pre-rotation considered fear of being sued (54%), fear of being reported to the regulatory body (50%) and fear of criminal prosecution (40%) as factors influencing their decision to pursue a career in gynecology. There were no significant changes post-rotation. CONCLUSIONS Medico-legal and regulatory culture is shaping the perceptions of graduate entry medical students of obstetrics and gynecology and influencing their decision to pursue a career in the speciality. Understanding the impact of medico-legal culture on career choices including a high-risk specialty such as obstetrics and gynecology is important from both a policy and reform context, and if the healthcare service is to recruit and retain adequate numbers to ensure the safe provision of healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eimear Spain
- School of Medicine, University of Limerick, Ireland; School of Law, University of Limerick, Ireland
| | | | | | | | | | - Amanda Cotter
- School of Medicine, University of Limerick, Ireland; University Maternity Hospital Limerick, Ireland
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Rippinger N, Deutsch TM, Wallwiener M, Hepp V, Weiss M, Scharl AJ, Strowitzki T, Fehm T, Toth B, Seelbach-Göbel B, Sohn C, Puppe J, Keß S. Joining to promote young talents: an experience report from the first German Summer School for Obstetrics and Gynaecology for medical students. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2019; 300:799-803. [PMID: 31471634 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-019-05265-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The Commission for the Promotion of Young Talents of the German Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics e.V. was founded in 2017, aiming to inspire medical students for a career in obstetrics and gynaecology by developing a concept for the first German Summer School in this field. Here, medical students shall be introduced to this multifaceted specialty and have their interest in it kindled. METHODS This article reports about the experiences of the first gynaecological summer school which was held at the University Hospital Heidelberg for 2 days in August 2018. The programme included keynote presentations, discussion roundtables and skills-lab training. To assess students' related satisfaction, and to improve future projects, an evaluation survey with seven items and two open-comment questions was given to each participant after the event. RESULTS Mostly female students [n (♀) = 37, 93%; n (♂) = 3, 7%] from 15 different medical universities from all over Germany participated. Available places were booked within 1 week. Participants were in their clinical part of their studies between the 5th and 16th semester. The average rating of the event was excellent with 1.1 points (1 = best-5 = worst), while the selection of topics scored lowest marks with an average rating of 1.7 points. CONCLUSION Due to the great success, the high demand and the student's positive evaluation, annual summer schools in obstetrics and gynaecology are planned. Because most of the participating students have shown a high interest and have appropriate education in the domain, the information content of keynote presentations could be increased above basic level in future projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Rippinger
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Thomas M Deutsch
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Markus Wallwiener
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vera Hepp
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Martin Weiss
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Anton J Scharl
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, St. Marien Hospital Amberg, Amberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Strowitzki
- Department of Gynaecologic Endocrinology and Fertility Disorders, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tanja Fehm
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Bettina Toth
- Department of Gynaecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Birgit Seelbach-Göbel
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Clinic St. Hedwig, Hospital of the Merciful Brothers, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christof Sohn
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julian Puppe
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Sabine Keß
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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I M F Ismail S, Kevelighan EH. A questionnaire survey of first-year graduate-entry medical students' perception of obstetrics and gynaecology as a future career speciality. J OBSTET GYNAECOL 2019; 40:354-359. [PMID: 31462120 DOI: 10.1080/01443615.2019.1634021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of first-year graduate-entry medical students of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, to enhance its appeal to them during their attachments in the speciality in later years, in the hope of increasing their recruitment into it. Seventy-seven questionnaires were returned out of 147 distributed over two academic years (52.38% response rate). Three (3.9%) would consider the speciality as first career choice and 38 (61.3%) would consider it as a second option. Although over a fifth perceived the demerits of the speciality, more than half endorsed its merits, which showed the need to address their concerns and harness their enthusiasm. Being a female was the only factor found to be significantly associated with choosing the speciality as a career (p < .001) and male respondents reported barriers, which need to be addressed. A bias towards Obstetrics was noted, which may reflect a focus on the Labour Ward during their attachment and necessitate broader exposure. As students may have pre-conceived ideas early in their studies, selection of applicants may become important for better recruitment.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known about this subject? The perception of third- and second-year graduate entry medical students of the speciality of Obstetrics and Gynaecology is biased towards Obstetrics, and they have apprehensions about the challenges of training and working in it.What do the results of this study add? The views of first-year graduate-entry medical students were broadly consistent with the views of their second and third year colleagues, indicating that they have pre-conceived views that need to be addressed early, though they were receptive of some merits, which showed need to harness their enthusiasm.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or future research? More effort and research are required to improve the perception of the speciality from entry to Medical School, and even student selection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Euan H Kevelighan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, UK
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