How well are we training residents in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to compare the familiarity of recently trained obstetrician-gynecologists (OGs) with the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) resident educational objectives (REOs) and their abilities to perform reconstructive pelvic surgeries (RPS) with those of residency program directors (PDs). STUDY DESIGN: Recent trainee and PD responses to a written survey assessing knowledge of AUGS REO and residents' abilities to perform RPS were compared with those of PD. RESULTS: Fewer OGs (18%) than PDs (58%) were familiar with the AUGS REO (P <.001). OGs were less likely than PDs to respond that they could "independently perform" nearly all listed RPS." Only 79% of OGs responded they could do a vaginal hysterectomy "on their own," in contrast to 94% of PDs (P =.002). CONCLUSIONS: The perceptions of recently trained OGs of their abilities to perform RPS are low and inconsistent with PD perceptions or AUGS REOs. This discrepancy warrants further investigation to clarify whether we need to reassess educational goals or improve surgical training in RPS.