Impact of duty hour limitations on resident and student education in obstetrics and gynecology

OBJECTIVE: To identify educators' attitudes about the impact of duty hour limitations on resident and student education in obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN). STUDY DESIGN: One hundred OB-GYN educators attending a session at the 2005 annual meeting of the Council on Residency Education/Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynecology were administered an anonymous survey that contained 16 items related to attitudes about the impact of resident duty hour limitations. All questions were answered by at least 77 respondents. RESULTS: OB-GYN educators perceive that work hours have a negative impact on resident education: 63% reported that overall resident education is worse and that resident surgical volume has diminished. The majority of educators perceive that limited work hours created no change in resident interest in teaching, but 62% perceive that residents have less time available to teach. Thirty-nine percent perceive that medical students have a better attitude about the OB-GYN rotation. CONCLUSION: Educators should accommodate duty hour limitations in the context of excellence in student and resident education.