1. Reflections on Education about Menopause.
- Author
-
SAPERSTEIN, JONATHAN, XUEZHI JIANG, and SCHNATZ, PETER F.
- Subjects
MENOPAUSE ,MEDICAL education ,WOMEN'S health ,RESIDENCE requirements ,RESIDENTS - Abstract
Introduction: While there are more postmenopausal women in this country than ever before, it is not uncommon for physicians across a variety of specialties to feel underprepared when taking care of these patients. The problem stems from insufficient menopause exposure throughout medical training. Methods: We reviewed the literature regarding the inadequacy of menopause education as well as what is being done to remedy the problem. Results: Multiple studies have examined the root of poor menopause preparation, and it appears to be the result of poor exposure to this condition at both the medical school and residency levels. Several studies demonstrated that third year medical students report a significantly decreased level of confidence regarding menopause topics when compared to other women's health and family medicine topics. Studies examining this on the residency level showed similar findings, even among ObGyn residents in their final year of training. However, several residency programs are working to fix this problem through the formation of menopause clinics and a structured curriculum for residents. Several studies have demonstrated significant improvement in resident knowledge after the implementation of these clinics. Conclusion: Menopause education needs to be strengthened for all students and residents in order to better serve a growing demographic of patients. The development of menopause-specific clinics, coupled with focused curricula for residents, may offer an effective solution to the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018