Obstetrical and gynecological ultrasound training during graduate medical education in Turkey

Objective

Use of ultrasonography in obstetrics and gynecology is ever increasing. Physicians generally acquire competency in ultrasonography during postgraduate years. However, acquaintance and core competency at a certain level during graduate education at medical school may be important. The present study aims to analyze the obstetrics and gynecology curricula of various medical schools in Turkey, concerning the current context of graduate obstetrical/gynecological ultrasound training.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. Curricula of 10 medical schools (at Abant İzzet Baysal, Akdeniz, Atatürk, Başkent, Dicle, Ege, Hacettepe, İstanbul, Karadeniz Teknik, and Süleyman Demirel Universities) randomly assigned from distinctive geographical regions in Turkey were retrieved from their websites. Theoretical and practical subject titles on obstetrics and gynecology during graduate education were probed. This included searches through online curricular texts with the keywords “USG”, “ultrasound”, and “ultrasonography”. Titles in the retrieved curricula pertaining to obstetrical/gynecological ultrasonography were analyzed.

Results

There was no subject title on gynecological ultrasonography in any of the analyzed curricula. Half of the academic programs (n=5) included a 1-hour theoretical lecture on “obstetrical ultrasonography”. Titles on practical training (“pregnancy/ gynecological ultrasound and follow-up” and “ultrasonographic cyst aspiration”) were present only in 2 of the curricula.

Conclusion 

Graduate education aiming competency in obstetrical/gynecological ultrasonography seems limited according to the present sample including 10 representative medical schools in Turkey.

Keywords

Curriculum evaluation, Graduate medical education,Competency in ultrasonography

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