UC Irvine

PROBLEM:: There is increased focus on supporting medical students’ transitions to internships to improve basic knowledge, efficiency and quality of care. Providing pre-residency education may help improve knowledge, clinical skills, and confidence. INTERVENTION:: A 2-day preparatory course for OB/Gyn-matched MS4s reviewed topics in the OB/Gyn ACGME Milestone 1 curriculum. The course used lectures, videos, and “hands-on” skills workshops. CONTEXT:: OB/Gyn-matched MS4s were invited to attend. Students took the APGO Prep for Res knowledge test (scored as percent correct) and completed a survey assessing confidence in Milestone 1 topics (Likert scale, 1=strongly disagree, 5=strongly agree) before and after the course. Students were sent a follow-up survey two months into internship assessing how the course impacted skills and inviting feedback. OUTCOME/LESSONS LEARNED:: Nine students attended. All 9 completed the pre-test, 7 the post-test, and 8 completed both surveys. The average test score before the course was 73%, and after 79% (p=0.24). No student had lower knowledge score after the course. Average confidence skills were 3.03 before and 4.47 after (p<0.05). Confidence improved most for these skills: applying fetal scalp electrode, repairing a perineal laceration, c-section steps. The least improvement noted for knot tying/suturing, and managing common outpatient gynecologic problems. Post-course confidence was highest for interpreting FHR, managing postpartum hemorrhage and repairing perineal lacerations, and lowest for biopsy skills and labor management. Interns reported the course to be “very helpful” to their transition. Suggestions for the future include: induction of labor, pre-eclampsia, hysteroscopy, contraceptive implant certification, and including students entering family medicine.