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. 2018 Nov 6;18(1):251.
doi: 10.1186/s12909-018-1362-4.

Choosing a women's health career

Isabel C Green  1 , Alessandra J Ainsworth  2 , Julia Riddle  3 , Dawn M Finnie  4 , Betty Chou  5
Affiliations

Choosing a women's health career

Isabel C Green et al. BMC Med Educ. .

Abstract

Background: In 2005, in response to a decline in residency applications in obstetrics and gynecology (OB GYN), the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology Presidential Task Force outlined strategies for attracting medical students to OB GYN. Application rates have increased since then, but little is known about which interventions are effective. We aimed to identify modifiable and nonmodifiable variables that may contribute to students choosing OB GYN for their careers; this information could be used to inform curriculum design, faculty development, and innovative exposures to women's health.

Methods: This qualitative study received institutional review board approval. Eligible participants were students who applied or recently matched into OB GYN residency programs from the class of 2014-2016 at our institution. Students were interviewed with open-ended questions and a Likert-type survey. Thematic analysis was performed.

Results: Ten qualitative interviews were completed and analyzed. Intrinsic themes such as the potential for a meaningful job in women's health, advocacy for women, or empowerment of women were identified as factors contributing to participant career choice. Extrinsic themes such as positive impressions during the clinical clerkship and welcoming teams were also identified. Most students indicated that the clerkship was the most influential experience.

Conclusions: Participants identified important events, including some that even preceded medical school that guided them toward OB GYN. The data guide us to consider the importance of emphasizing the unique combination of characteristics in OB GYN and improving the learning environment in the clerkship as a way to encourage student recruitment.

Keywords: Medical student; Obstetrics and gynecology; Recruitment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was approved by the Johns Hopkins Review Board. Verbal consent was obtained at the time of the phone interview. Interviews were conducted by phone as participants were dispersed geographically. Recruitment materials outlined voluntary participation, purpose of the research and protections to confidentiality and anonymity.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Survey on Program Interventions. Experiences are listed chronologically, from left to right. Potential responses to the Likert-type questions ranged from 1 to 5. GTS repro indicates genes-to-society reproduction course; PRECEDE, PRE-Clerkship EDucational Experience
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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