Surgical anatomy in obstetrics and gynaecology: the trainees' perspective

The aim of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) Integrated and Elective Training Program is to ensure trainees have both clinical and surgical competence. The capacity to recognise important anatomical structures underpins this aim; however, quantification of RANZCOG trainees' anatomical knowledge and their training and assessment is not available.

To survey trainees at all levels relating to applied anatomy, training and assessment within the RANZCOG training program.

All accredited RANZCOG trainees were invited to participate in an online survey relating to anatomy knowledge, application, assessment and means of improving anatomical training.

At the commencement of training, 11% of trainees perceived their anatomical knowledge as adequate and this increased to 77% by the final year of training. For final-year trainees, 78% perceived their anatomy knowledge as sufficient to perform a total abdominal hysterectomy and 87% an ovarian cystectomy or salpingectomy. Eighty-four per cent of trainees perceived the RANZCOG training programme as providing inadequate anatomy teaching. 100% of respondents supported a RANZCOG approved anatomy training course.

This is a survey-based study and therefore subjective. Consequently, accurate determination of anatomical knowledge for RANZCOG trainees is inexact.

Trainees perceive limitations in their anatomical knowledge. A formalised RANZCOG anatomy course would be of value in providing structured education and assessment of trainees' knowledge and establishing whether there are improvements in surgical competencies.