Katherine Rivlin1, Carolyn L Westhoff2. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA. Electronic address: katherine.rivlin@osumc.edu. 2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:Pregnancy options counseling, or nondirective counseling of patients with unintended pregnancy, is a "necessary competency" for medical students according the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Narrative Medicine (NM) utilizes stories of illness to inform clinical practice and promotes self-reflection in medical education. The authors analyzed the effect of a NM workshop on medical students' ability to provide pregnancy options counseling. METHODS: The authors randomized students in the major clinical year at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) to either a2-hour NM workshop or to a control intervention. The NM group participated in reading and reflective writing exercises addressing varying perspectives on pregnancy. Students then completed a video-taped and numerically-scored OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) regarding pregnancy options counseling. The authors compared mean OSCE scores between the groups. RESULTS: The study analyzed 103 participants. Overall mean OSCE scores were higher in the NM group (11.9 ± 1.5, n = 51) than the control group (11.3 ± 1.6, n = 52) (p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS:Students undergoing aNM workshop had higher scores on a pregnancy options counseling OSCE. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This brief intervention may aid future physicians in providing nondirective pregnancy options. This novel approach to teaching is an easily shared learning tool.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: Pregnancy options counseling, or nondirective counseling of patients with unintended pregnancy, is a "necessary competency" for medical students according the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Narrative Medicine (NM) utilizes stories of illness to inform clinical practice and promotes self-reflection in medical education. The authors analyzed the effect of a NM workshop on medical students' ability to provide pregnancy options counseling. METHODS: The authors randomized students in the major clinical year at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) to either a 2-hour NM workshop or to a control intervention. The NM group participated in reading and reflective writing exercises addressing varying perspectives on pregnancy. Students then completed a video-taped and numerically-scored OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) regarding pregnancy options counseling. The authors compared mean OSCE scores between the groups. RESULTS: The study analyzed 103 participants. Overall mean OSCE scores were higher in the NM group (11.9 ± 1.5, n = 51) than the control group (11.3 ± 1.6, n = 52) (p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Students undergoing a NM workshop had higher scores on a pregnancy options counseling OSCE. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This brief intervention may aid future physicians in providing nondirective pregnancy options. This novel approach to teaching is an easily shared learning tool.
Authors: Christy DiFrances Remein; Ellen Childs; John Carlo Pasco; Ludovic Trinquart; David B Flynn; Sarah L Wingerter; Robina M Bhasin; Lindsay B Demers; Emelia J Benjamin Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-01-26 Impact factor: 2.692