A National Survey of Profiles of Clerkship Directors in Obstetrics and Gynecology

• Published in: Obstetrics and gynecology (New York. 1953) Vol. 134; no. 4; pp. 869 - 873
• Main Authors: Morgan, Helen Kang, Graziano, Scott C, Craig, LaTasha B, Everett, Elise N, Forstein, David A, Hampton, Brittany S, Hopkins, Laura, McKenzie, Margaret L, Pradhan, Archana, Royce, Celeste, Madani-Sims, Shireen, Morosky, Christopher M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved 01.10.2019
• Subjects: Adult; Burnout, Professional; Clinical Clerkship; Faculty, Medical - psychology; Faculty, Medical - statistics & numerical data; Faculty, Medical - trends; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0029-7844; 1873-233X
• DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003471

OBJECTIVE:To monitor demographics and factors associated with quality of life among obstetrics and gynecology clerkship directors. A secondary goal was to compare current demographics and survey responses to a 1994 survey of clerkship directors. METHODS:A 36-item electronic survey was developed and distributed to the 182 U.S. clerkship directors with active memberships with the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Items queried respondents on demographics, attitudes about being a clerkship director, quality of life, and burnout. RESULTS:A total of 113 of the 182 (62%) clerkship directors responded to the survey. The mean full-time time equivalent allocated for clerkship director responsibilities was 25%. When compared with clerkship directors from 1994, current clerkship directors are younger, work fewer total hours per week, spend more time on patient care, and less time on research. Notably, 78% (87) of respondents were female compared with 21% (31) of respondents in 1994. Overall, most current clerkship directors responded optimistically to quality of life and burnout measures, with 25% (28) reporting symptoms of high emotional exhaustion and 17% (19) reporting symptoms of depersonalization. Clerkship directorsʼ perception of support from their medical school was significantly correlated with increased personal fulfilment and positive quality of life, as well as decreased burnout and emotional exhaustion measures. CONCLUSION:The gender demographics of obstetrics and gynecology undergraduate medical education leadership have dramatically shifted over the past 25 years; however, many of the changes are not correlated with quality of life and burnout. The association between perceived support from the medical school and multiple quality of life measures point to the vital importance of support for our medical educators.