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Laparoscopy training in United States obstetric and gynecology residency programs
Dale W Stovall1, Andrea S Fernandez, Stephen A Cohen
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia 23298-0098, USA. dwstoval@hsc.vcu.edu
Objectives:
To assess laparoscopic training curriculums in US Obstetrics and Gynecology residency programs.
Methods:
A list of E-mail addresses was obtained for the accredited Obstetrics and Gynecology residency programs in the US from the CREOG Directory of Obstetric-Gynecologic Residency Programs and Directors. An E-mail survey containing 8 questions regarding laparoscopy training was sent to all residency directors with current E-mail addresses.
Results:
Seventy-four residency directors responded to the survey for a response rate of 41%. Residency programs from all sections of the US were included in the study. Results of the survey indicate that 69% of residency programs had implemented a formal laparoscopy training program. At least half of the program directors surveyed stated that lack of faculty time and funds were the main barriers to laparoscopic surgery training. Seventy-two percent of those surveyed thought that in the future the health-care industry would demand proof of competency in laparoscopy as standard of care.
Conclusions:
Most US Obstetrics and Gynecology residency programs have implemented a formal laparoscopy training curriculum, use more than one method to train their residents, and involve almost half of their faculty on average in training residents to perform laparoscopic surgery.
