Time for an education revamp? A nationwide survey of Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery program directors' and fellows' didactics experiences.

Abstract

Study objective: A desire for curriculum standardization in obstetrics and gynecology residencies has been identified. No prior investigation of educational experiences in Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (FMIGS) programs has been completed. The purpose of this study was to determine the state of FMIGS didactic education and the perceptions that fellowship directors and fellows have regarding a standardized curriculum.

Design: National survey SETTING: Web-based survey platform PARTICIPANTS: AAGL FMIGS program directors and fellows INTERVENTIONS: N/A RESULTS: A total of 87 out of 151 fellowship directors responded to the survey resulting in a response rate of 57.6%. A total of 58 of 97 fellows responded to the survey with a response rate of 59.8%. When participants were asked if their programs had structured didactic education curriculums, 98.9% of fellowship directors replied yes while only 77.6% of fellows responded yes (p<.001). Approximately 97% fellowship directors reported that structured didactic time is protected from clinical duties. However, only 67.2% of fellows reported that didactic time was protected (p<.001). Participants (71.3% of fellowship directors and 84.5% of fellows) strongly agreed/agreed that their didactic education could be improved. A large majority of participants agreed that all MIGS fellows should learn the same content in their didactics curriculums, that fellows should have access to the same educational resources and that participating in a standardized didactic curriculum would allow for better transition into independent practice.

Conclusion: Fellowship directors and fellows are aligned in the desire for improvement in their current didactic education programs and the need for a centrally located, structured, and standardized fellowship education curriculum.