Obstetrical practice after a family medicine residency

To determine factors influencing physicians to provide obstetrical care, a questionnaire was sent to all 149 graduates of the University of Western Ontario family medicine program from 1987 to 1991, inclusive. Few (37.1%) of the 105 respondents still performed low-risk deliveries. Most frequently cited negative factors included interference with lifestyle, interruption of regular office routine, and insufficient training in obstetrics. Rural postal code, neonatal advanced life support training, and older age positively correlated with obstetrical practice. Ways in which residency training programs could address the alarming decrease in family practice obstetrics are discussed.