Exploring the current state of medical education in obstetrics and gynecology: A nationwide survey among German teaching coordinators

Abstract

Background: Obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) is an essential medical field that focuses on women’s health. Universities aim to provide high-quality healthcare services to women through comprehensive education of medical students. The objective of the present survey was both to ascertain perspectives on the teaching methods, resources, and challenges faced by medical educators in the field of OB/GYN in Germany and to identify possible room from improvement. The survey was conducted with teaching coordinators from most German university OB/GYN departments.Methods: A questionnaire was sent to the teaching coordinators in all 41 OB/GYN departments at German university hospitals. The survey was delivered via email with a link to an online survey platform.Results: The study received 30 responses from 41 universities. In addition to standard teaching formats, such as lectures, seminars, and clinical clerkships, the universities differed in their additional teaching offerings. Gynecological history-taking and general gynecology had the highest rates of learning success, while subfields such as reproductive medicine and urogynecology performed poorly. E-learning was found to be widely used and was considered advantageous. While good teaching was found to be essential and valued by students, a shortage of resources for medical education was noted.Conclusion: The present study provides valuable insights into the current state of medical education in OB/GYN at German universities from the perspective of teaching experts. We discuss approaches to overcoming current obstacles and offer suggestions for improvement.