Resident training survey in infertility

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Medical Education
• Reproductive Medicine

Background:

• Infertility is a significant concern impacting many couples.
• Specialized training in male infertility is crucial for urologists.
• Current urology residency curricula may not adequately address infertility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the current state of infertility training within urology residency programs.
• To identify deficiencies and areas for improvement in urological infertility education.

Main Methods:

• A pilot survey was distributed to randomly selected urology training programs.
• A modified survey was sent to 126 accredited urology residencies in North America.
• Response rate was 87% (110 out of 126 surveys returned).

Main Results:

• 38% of programs expressed interest in hiring faculty with infertility expertise.
• 32% reported insufficient patient numbers for adequate resident training in infertility.
• 56% of residents demonstrated lower competence in infertility treatment compared to other urology subspecialties.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms a significant underemphasis on infertility training in urology residencies.
• There is a clear need to enhance the quality and scope of infertility education in these programs.
• Addressing these gaps is essential for improving patient care in reproductive medicine.