The role of gender-specific factors in the choice of specialty training in obstetrics and gynecology: results from a survey among medical students in Germany

Abstract

Purpose The field of obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) is facing growing competition for young professionals in Germany, with high interest rates among female graduates and a declining proportion of male students who choose residency training in the field. The aim of this study is to analyze general and gender-dependent factors that influence the decision for or against specialty training in OB/GYN among medical students in Germany. Methods Between February and November 2019, n = 346 medical students in their 5th and 6th year of undergraduate training at Heidelberg University received a questionnaire with 44 items. Results n = 286 students (61.3 female; 38.7% male) participated in the study. 28% of the female students and 9% of the male students had considered OB/GYN for their specialty training. The students reported different general and gender-specific influencing factors in their choice of a specialty. Both genders desired a good work-life-balance, however, in comparison with their female colleagues, male students had heavily weighted factors related to their later careers and professional success, including competition among colleagues. Male students had gained little practical experience during compulsory internships (26.9% for females vs. 8.8% for males) or had chosen their final-year elective in OB/GYN (15.9% for females vs. 5.5% for males). Female students had worried about the negative effects of their sex on their career (35.4% for females vs. 5.9% for males). Conclusion OB/GYN must become more appealing and attractive to young female and male professionals alike. A better compatibility of career and family should go hand in hand with the implementation of differentiated, (extra) curricular teaching approaches that take the different preferences of female and male students into account.

Australian medical students’ and junior doctors' perceptions of gender discrepancies in obstetrics and gynaecology

“…Similar findings have been reported from Latin America 9 . A recent German study suggests there are gender‐specific factors such as incompatibility of career and family playing a role in the choice of specialty training 10 …”

Experiences with alternative online lectures in medical education in obstetrics and gynecology during the COVID-19 pandemic—possible efficient and student-orientated models for the future?

“…However, most of our students noted subjective benefits for their learning efficacy and success and desired more e-learning courses in their curriculum in the future. Learning efficacy and independence are important not only due to the expanding medical curriculum but also with regard to students’ motivation for their later specialty training independent of their gender [ 54 ]. Evoking interest in a specialty is crucial in a time with a growing shortage of physicians and an accelerating competition for graduate students [ 55 , 56 ].…”

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

“…Our own study on gender differences when it comes to medical students' choice of specialization at Heidelberg University revealed that male students receive signi cantly less hands-on training in OB/GYN compared with female students. These ndings demonstrate that only a small proportion (22%) of male students gain practical experience in OB/GYN beyond the compulsory bedside teaching during their clinical clerkships, while 62% of male students neither observe nor conduct an examination on their own (22). Additionally, one publication from the United States highlights the discontent that male students express with their OB/GYN clinical exposure, with gender being cited as a relevant factor in their dissatisfaction (23).…”

“…According to the teaching coordinators in our study, urogynecology and reproductive medicine perform the worst when it comes to learning success. With regard to reproductive medicine, this nding is especially interesting because this sub-specialization of OB/GYN is equally as popular among medical students as is gynecological oncology (22). One reason for the poor performance in these sub elds might me the limited amount of time that is reserved for teaching them.…”