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. 2024 Sep 21:55:101501.
doi: 10.1016/j.gore.2024.101501. eCollection 2024 Oct.

Early-career and fellow gynecologic oncologists perceive underpreparedness for the business of medicine: A Society of gynecologic oncology survey study

Jhalak Dholakia  1 , Leslie R Boyd  2 , Rinki Agarwal  3 , Haley Moss  4 , Emily M Ko  5 , Emeline Aviki  2 , Margaret I Liang  6
Affiliations

Early-career and fellow gynecologic oncologists perceive underpreparedness for the business of medicine: A Society of gynecologic oncology survey study

Jhalak Dholakia et al. Gynecol Oncol Rep. .

Abstract

Objective: There is a research gap on the impact of payment, reimbursement, and academic productivity in career decision-making for early-career (EC) attendings in gynecologic oncology. We sought to assess gynecologic oncology fellows and EC attendings on their knowledge and perceptions regarding the business of medicine.

Methods: An anonymous survey was electronically disseminated to fellow and EC SGO members. Key themes were the business of medicine, productivity, and compensation/negotiation. A 5-point Likert scale was utilized; descriptive statistics were calculated using SPSS.

Results: There was a 29 % response rate: 82 fellows and 102 EC attendings. Most were white (n = 143, 78 %) and female (n = 138, 75 %.) Most fellows (n = 67, 82 %) were interested in, and most EC (n = 82, 82 %) were employed in, academic/non-private practice. Fellows and EC attendings reported insufficient education on RVUs (relative value units) and reimbursement (80 %, n = 66; 81 %, n = 83) and did not feel prepared for the business aspect of practice (80 %, n = 66; 73 %, n = 75). Over 40 % of fellows did not understand how RVUs relate to practice. Thirty-three percent of EC attendings did not understand RVU assignments; 29 % were satisfied with methods used to determine productivity, and 17 % did not understand their compensation. Over 60 % of fellows felt unprepared to negotiate clinical productivity expectations. For EC attendings, 47 % were uncomfortable negotiating clinical expectations, 32 % negotiating academic expectations, and 52 % negotiating compensation changes. Female EC felt less prepared than male EC regarding the business of medicine (p = 0.02), RVU assignments (p < 0.01), and compensation negotiations (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Most gynecologic oncology fellows and early-career attendings do not feel prepared for the business of medicine. Women were less comfortable with these concepts than men. Formal education should be incorporated into career development curricula.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Factors Influencing Practice Type/Intended Practice Type.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Fellow and Early Career Responses regarding Concept 1, the Business of Medicine and RVUs.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Responses Re: Concept 2, Academic Productivity.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Gender Differences in Early-Career Responses (p < 0.05 male vs female, all.).
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Gender Differences in Early-Career Responses (p < 0.05 male vs female, all.).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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