Influences on teaching colposcopy and treatment modalities in family practice programs

Colposcopy and related therapeutic modalities are taught in many family practice residency programs. The role of the following two factors in a family practice residency program's decision to teach these procedures was evaluated: 1) the coexistence of an obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) residency program at the affiliated hospital and 2) the perceived attitude of community obstetrician-gynecologists toward family physicians performing the procedures.

In 1993, all 399 accredited family practice residency programs were surveyed, with a response rate of 86.5%.

Ninety-three percent of responding programs taught colposcopy. All programs that rated community obstetrician-gynecologists' attitudes as positive taught colposcopy, and 91% taught cryotherapy. In programs rating local obstetrician-gynecologists' attitudes as negative, 85.5% taught colposcopy, and 71% taught cryotherapy. A co-located OB-GYN program did not influence a family practice program's likelihood of teaching colposcopy or treatment modalities.

A perception that community obstetrician-gynecologists have negative attitudes about family physicians performing colposcopy may dissuade some family practice programs from teaching colposcopy and related treatment modalities. This influence was not seen in programs with a co-located OB-GYN residency.