Former-resident self-assessment - A tool for residency program curriculum evaluation in obstetrics and gynecology

OBJECTIVE: To determine recent residents' confidence in managing problems in obstetrics and gynecology. STUDY DESIGN: All former residents from 1998 to 2002 were invited to participate. They were asked to complete a 32-item survey to assess confidence in obstetric and gynecologic care using Likert-scale responses. The study was approved by the local institutional review board. The t test was used for statistical analysis; p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Twenty-eight individuals graduated from the program during the study period; 61% responded to the survey. Respondents reported the lowest confidence in the business aspects of medicine, gynecologic ultrasound, laparoscopically assisted hysterectomy, pessary placement and cancer staging. They reported the highest confidence in routine obstetrics, laparoscopic sterilization, contraception, abnormal Pap smears, abdominal surgery and diagnostic laparoscopy, along with other categories. CONCLUSION: Residents are confident about management of most problems in obstetrics and gynecology. Periodic review of graduates' perceptions of training may be useful in modifying the curriculum.