Multicenter Urogynecology Study on Education: Medical Student Educational Experiences and Knowledge Outcomes During the OBGYN Clerkship.

OBJECTIVE: : The objective of this study was to describe self-assessed student knowledge of female pelvic medicine (FPM) during the OBGYN clerkship.

METHODS: : Students at 6 sites scored their knowledge of 12 FPM topics and 4 procedures both before and after their clerkship. Analysis included Wilcoxon tests, Spearman correlation, and univariate and multivariate models.

RESULTS: : A total of 323 students completed paired surveys. Mean knowledge scores (KSs) across FPM topics (1.40 ± 0.12; 95% confidence interval) and procedures (0.77 ± 0.08) increased significantly, with larger increases for topics (P < 0.001). Topic and procedure KSs were correlated (rs = 0.32, P < 0.0001). Mean KSs were significantly related to number and number of types of learning experiences (r = 0.13 and 0.08, both P < 0.001). Learning through text and inpatient encounters had independent effects on KS change in multivariate analysis (P = 0.01 and 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS: : Students reported increased knowledge although less for procedures than for topics. Text and inpatient learning independently increased students' self-assessed change in knowledge.