Contraception
Volume 80, Issue 1 , Pages 74-80, July 2009

First impressions: what are preclinical medical students in the US and Canada learning about sexual and reproductive health?☆

  • Jody Steinauer

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author.
    • ,
  • Flynn LaRochelle

      Affiliations

    • Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
    • ,
  • Marta Rowh

      Affiliations

    • University of Pennsylvania MD-PhD Program, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
    • ,
  • Lois Backus

      Affiliations

    • Medical Students for Choice, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
    • ,
  • Yarrow Sandahl

      Affiliations

    • Formerly affiliated with Medical Students for Choice, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
    • ,
  • Angel Foster

      Affiliations

    • Ibis Reproductive Health, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

Received 14 February 2008; accepted 31 December 2008. published online 01 April 2009.

Abstract 

Background

This study evaluates the inclusion of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) topics in preclinical US and Canadian medical education.

Study Design

Between 2002 and 2005, we sent surveys to the student coordinators of active Medical Students for Choice chapters at 122 US and Canadian medical schools. Students reported on the preclinical curricular inclusion of 50 specific SRH topics in the broad categories of pregnancy, contraception, infertility, elective abortion, ethical and social issues, and other topics.

Results

We received 77 completed surveys, for an overall response rate of 63%. Coverage of pregnancy physiology and STIs/HIV was uniformly high. In contrast, inclusion of contraceptive methods and elective abortion procedures greatly varied by subtopic and geographic region. Thirty-three percent of respondents reported no coverage of elective abortion-related topics.

Conclusions

Inclusion of contraception and elective abortion in preclinical medical school courses varies widely. As critical components of women's lives and health, we recommend that medical schools work to integrate comprehensive family planning content into their standard curricula.

Keywords: Medical education, Family planning, Abortion

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☆ Funding for this study was provided by an anonymous foundation.

PII: S0010-7824(09)00049-3

doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2008.12.015

Contraception
Volume 80, Issue 1 , Pages 74-80, July 2009

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