Perspectives of OB-GYN Residents and Faculty on Resident Simulation Curricula: A Mixed-Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Simulation
• Obstetrics and Gynecology Training

Background:

• Simulation training is vital for skill development in low-risk settings and is common in residency programs.
• Recent advancements include simulation models specifically for obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN).
• Optimizing simulation curricula requires understanding the perspectives of key stakeholders, including residents and faculty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate OB-GYN residents' and faculty's perspectives on simulation training.
• To identify key elements for an effective and acceptable simulation curriculum.
• To inform the development of standardized OB-GYN simulation training.

Main Methods:

• Convergent-parallel mixed methods study design.
• Electronic surveys administered to OB-GYN residents and faculty.
• Focus groups conducted with residents and faculty, followed by inductive and collaborative coding of transcripts.

Main Results:

• Identified key themes: desired simulation topics, optimal timing, curriculum structure, educational barriers, influencing factors, and improving resident education.
• Survey responses corroborated the themes identified in focus groups.
• Both residents and faculty emphasized the need for a structured and standardized curriculum.

Conclusions:

• Resident and faculty perspectives highlight the need for a standardized OB-GYN simulation curriculum.
• Current lack of simulation curriculum standards necessitates further development.
• Effective training requires open communication to address the unique needs and barriers of both trainees and educators.