Is an interdisciplinary session on ethics and law in obstetrics and gynaecology effective?

To evaluate the effects of an interdisciplinary session on medical ethics and legal issues related to obstetrics and gynaecology on medical students' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours.

Second-year medical students at the University of Alberta were asked to complete surveys before and after an interdisciplinary panel session on ethics and legal issues in reproductive health. Survey questions were related to knowledge of ethics and law, attitudes toward controversial topics in reproductive health, and predicted behaviours in specific clinical scenarios. In the postsession survey, students were asked to evaluate the session's usefulness and impact.

Fifty-seven students completed both the pre- and postsession surveys. Most students listed family, religion, culture, peer groups, scientific thought and theory, and school and education as influences on their own personal ethics and morality. Fifty-five students (97%) stated that the panel session was useful. Most students (79%) reported that the session increased their knowledge of ethical and legal issues in reproductive health. Many students felt that the panel session would change the way they practise in similar clinical situations (63%). The panel session appeared to affect knowledge and predicted behaviour.

A large-group interdisciplinary panel session can influence medical students' knowledge and future behaviours related to ethics and law in obstetrics and gynaecology. Medical students gave this session a high rating.