Danis, P. G., Kurz, S. A., & Covert, L. M. (2017). Medical Students' Knowledge of Fertility Awareness-Based Methods of Family Planning. Frontiers in Medicine, 4, 65. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2017.00065
Danis PG, Kurz SA, Covert LM. Medical Students' Knowledge of Fertility Awareness-Based Methods of Family Planning. Front Med (Lausanne). 2017;4:65. doi:10.3389/fmed.2017.00065
Danis, Peter G., et al. "Medical Students' Knowledge of Fertility Awareness-Based Methods of Family Planning." Frontiers in Medicine, vol. 4, 2017, pp. 65.
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Medical students scored higher on fertility awareness after lectures
In a pretest and posttest study of third-year medical students on an OB-GYN rotation, average scores on fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) improved from 38.99% to 53.57% after two lectures. Students also rated their own confidence higher afterward. The pretest included 277 students and the posttest 196.
Key Findings
Confidence in diagnosing and treating gynecologic and reproductive problems with FABMs averaged 1.01 before and 3.15 after, on a 0 to 5 scale where 5 is very confident (p < 0.05).
Average comfort in sharing FABM information with patients was 1.51 before the lectures and 3.00 after, on a 0 (very uncomfortable) to 5 (very comfortable) scale (p < 0.05).
The average knowledge score was 38.99% before the lectures (n = 277) and 53.57% after them (n = 196), with p < 0.05.
The two lectures covered reproductive physiology and FABMs in family planning, then FABM charting in diagnosing and treating gynecologic conditions such as endometriosis and infertility.
Interpretation
The study follows a pretest and posttest design: students answered the same 10-question assessment at the start and the end of the rotation, with two lectures and online resources in between. The investigators tested the changes with McNemar's test, and the confidence ratings are the students' own self-reports. Participants were third-year medical students in the United States. The authors note that the results may not predict long-term retained knowledge or changes in clinical behavior.
RRM Context
Restorative reproductive medicine relies on cycle charting to look for the cause of a woman's gynecologic and reproductive problems. The authors describe NaProTechnology as a set of protocols that physicians can use with a woman's FABM chart to help diagnose and treat such problems. They cite a study of family medicine residents: 27% reported spending no time, and 56% less than 1 hour, on FABM education in school.
Our editorial summary of this paper, not the article's abstract.
Abstract
Objective
Traditional medical school curricula have not addressed fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) of family planning. The objective of this study was to assess (1) 3-year medical students' knowledge of FABMs of family planning, (2) their confidence in utilizing that knowledge in patient care, and (3) to implement focused education on FABMs to improve knowledge and confidence.
Methods
Third-year medical students at one institution in the United States were given a 10-question assessment at the beginning of their OB-GYN rotation. Two lectures about FABMs and their clinical applications were given during the rotation. Students were given the same questions at the end of the rotation. Each questionnaire consisted of eight questions to assess a student's knowledge of FABMs and two questions to assess the student's confidence in sharing and utilizing that information in a clinical setting. McNemar's test was used to analyze the data.
Results
Two hundred seventy-seven students completed a pretest questionnaire and 196 students completed the posttest questionnaire. Medical knowledge improved from an initial test score of 38.99% to final test score of 53.57% (p < 0.05). Confidence in sharing FABM information with patients (0 = very uncomfortable; 5 = very comfortable) improved from 1.51 to 3.00 (p < 0.05). Confidence in utilizing FABM to diagnose and treat gynecologic/reproductive problems (0 = not very confident and 5 = very confident) improved from 1.01 to 3.15 (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
Medical schools may not include FABMs in OB-GYN curriculum; however, to patients, these methods remain a sought after and valid form of family planning. This study shows that brief, focused education can increase medical students' knowledge of and confidence with FABMs of family planning.
Fertility Awareness › Methods › Sympto-Thermal Method · Clinician Education and Training › Clinician Training › Curriculum and Competencies
Peter G Danis, Sally A Kurz, Laura M Covert
Pete Danis, P Danis, S Kurz, L Covert
PMID 28620604 28620604 DOI 10.3389/fmed.2017.00065 10.3389/fmed.2017.00065 Danis et al. 2017, Danis 2017
Keywords
Female Reproductive Physiology, Fertility Awareness, Fertility Awareness-based Method, Medical Student Education, Methods of Family Planning, Natural Family Planning Methods
