Burnout in Obstetricians-Gynecologists: Its Prevalence, Identification, Prevention, and Reversal.

Studies indicate that burnout rates among obstetricians-gynecologists range from 40% to more than 75%, which is in the middle to upper one-third of medical specialties. Symptoms range from feelings of underappreciation and unresolved fatigue, to cynicism, depression, physical symptoms, and illness. Burnout is associated with poor job satisfaction, questioning career choices, and dropping out of practice, impacting workforce concerns and patient access.

Burnout in Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Professional burnout threatens all high-functioning professionals and affects not only the individual, but, by extension, the patients they serve. The characteristics that make someone competitive for medical school, residency, or successful in academics or practice, make us particularly vulnerable to burnout: compulsive dedication to goals (and patients), motivation to succeed, self-reliance, leadership experience, delayed gratification, and others. Estimates of the prevalence of burnout in medicine vary widely but are consistently >40% and often as high as 75%.

Throw Out a Lifeline, Someone Is Drifting Away: It Takes a Village to Combat Burnout.

The increasing prevalence of professional burnout threatens not only the individual but the community of caregivers and, therefore, our patients. There is a growing body of individual actions that can be taken to reduce or reverse the effect of burnout. However, no amount of individual resolve will be sufficient if we do not create a climate conducive to mutual assistance and support.

A Plea for MERSQI: The Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument.

Objective: To describe the quality of educational scholarship presented at a large national conference of obstetrics and gynecology educators.

Methods: We reviewed Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology-Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics annual meeting abstracts from 2015 and 2016, published as supplements to Obstetrics & Gynecology. For this uncontrolled observational study, abstracts were reviewed and scored using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI).

Burnout in Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

It is estimated that 40% to 75% of obstetricians and gynecologists currently suffer from professional burnout, making the lifetime risk a virtual certainty. Although these statistics make for a dismal view of the profession, if the causes and symptoms can be identified simple steps can be implemented to reverse the threat. With a little care, the enjoyment of practice can be restored and the sense of reward and the value of service can be returned.

Breast cancer risk assessment: positive predictive value of family history as a predictor of risk.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the practical usefulness of family history as a tool for breast cancer risk assessment.

Methods: Women from the Raloxifene Use for The Heart trial (N = 10,048), which consisted of postmenopausal women with or at high risk for coronary artery disease, were included in this post hoc analysis. The breast cancer risk score at baseline was calculated using the National Cancer Institute's Breast Cancer Risk Assessment tool.

Resident technical experience in obstetrics and gynecology before and after implementation of work-hour rules.

Objective: To evaluate resident experience in obstetric and gynecologic procedures after implementation of resident work-hour restrictions.

Methods: Median resident experience in core obstetric and gynecologic procedures in the role of "surgeon" for the 3-year period before the implementation of work-hour restrictions were compared with data from a similar 3-year period starting 4 years after the work-hour rules were in effect. Comparisons to national practice changes occurring over the same time period were made with national data.

Attributes of successful and unsuccessful female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery fellowship applicants.

Objective: : To evaluate qualifications of successful applicants to Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS) fellowship programs.

Methods: : A 55-point web-based survey was sent to 49 applicants participating in the 2008 FPMRS Match.

Results: : The survey achieved a 59% response rate, with a total of 29 respondents.

Factors used by female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery fellowship directors to select their fellows.

Introduction And Hypothesis: We report the attributes of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPM&RS) fellowship applicants that are most valued by fellowship program directors during the ranking process.

Methods: Anonymous questionnaires were filled out by FPM&RS fellowship program directors following the 2008 match. The survey was designed to assess the relative importance of various factors in the ranking of fellowship applicants.

Continuous, low-level, topical heat wrap therapy as compared to acetaminophen for primary dysmenorrhea.

Objective: To determine if pain relief provided by a wearable heat wrap (continuous, low-level, topical heat therapy) is superior to oral acetaminophen for primary dysmenorrhea.

Study Design: A randomized, active-controlled, multisite, single-blind (investigator), parallel-design study compared an abdominal wrap to an oral medication (acetaminophen, 1000 mg) over I day. Pain relief (0-5) and abdominal muscle tightness/cramping (0-100) were recorded at 12 time points.

Primary gastrointestinal cancers presenting as gynecologic malignancies.

Objective: The goal of this study was to characterize presenting symptoms, prognostic factors, and treatment outcome in patients diagnosed with primary gastrointestinal (GI) cancers initially presumed to be of gynecologic origin.

Methods: A retrospective review of all admissions to the gynecologic oncology service at Saint Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, was performed between 1993 and 2003. Twenty-six patients with primary GI cancers who presented with presumed gynecologic malignancies were identified.

Evaluating evaluation forms form.

Objectives: To provide a tool for evaluating evaluation forms.

Methods: A new form has been developed and tested on itself and a sample of evaluation forms obtained from the graduate medical education offices of several local universities. Additional forms from hospital administration were also subjected to analysis.

Objective changes in intrauterine pressure during placebo treatment of dysmenorrhea.

The paradoxical improvement of many subjective phenomena during placebo therapy is both well established and notorious for confounding many well designed studies. Consistently high placebo response rates of as much as 44% have been reported in subjective studies of dysmenorrhea. In an effort to evaluate the discordant role of objective uterine activity known to be associated with primary dysmenorrhea and the subjective sensation of discomfort, data from 18 patients undergoing meclofenamate therapy for primary dysmenorrhea were evaluated.