Obstetric training in Emergency Medicine: a needs assessment

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Obstetrics
• Medical Education

Background:

• Effective management of obstetric emergencies is crucial in emergency medicine.
• Emergency medicine residency training often provides limited exposure to pregnant patients.
• Current guidelines for obstetric training may not adequately ensure resident competency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate emergency medicine resident confidence and knowledge regarding obstetric emergencies.
• To assess the adequacy of current exposure and comfort levels with obstetric emergencies.
• To identify potential deficits in core obstetrics knowledge among residents.

Main Methods:

• A 15-item survey was developed to assess resident confidence and knowledge.
• Survey included questions on exposure, comfort levels, and multiple-choice knowledge assessments.
• The survey was distributed to emergency medicine residency programs via the CORD listserv.

Main Results:

• 212 residents from 55 programs completed the survey.
• 56% of residents felt they had adequate exposure to obstetric emergencies.
• Residents reported moderate comfort levels (2.58-3.97 on a 1-5 scale) and a 58% average correct answer rate on knowledge questions, with no significant improvement by postgraduate year.

Conclusions:

• Emergency medicine residents demonstrate a concerning lack of comfort and knowledge deficits in obstetric emergencies.
• Current training may be insufficient to instill competency in managing obstetric emergencies.
• Educational interventions are recommended to enhance resident exposure and knowledge in obstetrics.