1. †Department of Family Medicine
Family Medicine/OB GYN Case-Based Women’s Health Conferences: Learning From Each Other
Alan Cadesky, MD†
Karen Ashby, MD‡
Stephen Zyzanski, PhD †
Vanessa Panaite, BA †
†Department of Family Medicine
‡Department of OBGyn
This presentation is derived from a series of joint residency conferences conceived, planned and presented by faculty from the departments of Family Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, OH.
I am Al Cadesky, the OB and Women’s Health Coordinator for out Family Medicine residency and my copresenter is Karen Ashby, the OB Gyn liaison to our department. Our other coauthors are Steve Zyzanski and Vanessa Panaite of our Family Medicine research division.

2. Introduction
Collaborative residency training between family practice and other specialties occurs infrequently apart from combined residency training programs
Family Medicine and OB residents interact frequently in clinically difficult situations and the relationship between those departments at academic centers can be difficult and mutually mistrustful. There is a significant overlap in the educational curriculum which we must teach our residents.
At University Hospitals Case Medicall Center, our two departments have a long history of clinical and educational collaboration. Dr. Ashby, the current OB Gyn liaison, teaches at our weekly Family Medicine Women’s Health conferences and consults on our continuity OB patients.
Dr. Ashby wanted to develop an educational project and felt that the degree of collaboration between our departments was worthy of study. A literature search and discussion with academic colleagues revealed no evidence of similar ongoing joint residency conferences.
I collaborated with Dr. Ashby and our Women’s Health fellow to develop a list of topics which we felt would enhance both curricula and interest our learners.

3. Purpose/Aims
To design, implement and evaluate joint teaching conferences of relevant women’s health topics for residents of Family Medicine and Obstetrics/Gynecology
To encourage collaboration and mutual respect between departments

4. Description of Conferences
Clinical cases and discussion questions were developed based on learning objectives
Core faculty from both departments guided the discussion, supplemented by other content experts
Teaching was primarily interactive rather than didactic
Post-conference knowledge tests, attitudinal evaluation forms, review articles and knowledge test answers were distributed at the end of each session

5. Methods Created a one-page attitudinal evaluation sheet
Residents were asked to evaluate:
Value of topic
Satisfaction with presentation
Increased Competence with the topic
Whether the Learning Objectives were met
Residents completed a knowledge test

6. Post Session Attitudinal Evaluation
4 questions using the Likert scale, with 1 best to 5 worst rating:
How valuable was this topic to you clinically?
How satisfied were you with this presentation?
After the presentation, did you feel more competent to deal with this topic?
How satisfied are you that the learning objectives were met during the conference?

7. Response Format for Attitudinal Items
How valuable was this topic to you clinically?
1. Very Moderately Slightly Uncertain Not Valuable
valuable valuable valuable at all
Knowledge Questionnaire
3 to 6 questions, generally multiple choice

8. Analysis
Mean attitudinal evaluation ratings between topics, departments and level of residency training were compared by effect size and t-test

9. Mean Ratings for Value of Topic and Competence Gained Combined
Topic # Residents Mean SD
Attending (Value/Comp)
Incontinence
Osteoporosis
Vulvodynia
Bariatric/Obesity
Chronic pelvic pain
Breastfeeding  
Cancer Genetics
Obesity/Pregnancy
Hematology
Menopause
Heart Disease
Sexual Dysfunction

10. Mean and standard deviation of attitudinal evaluation ratings and percent correct by presentation topic
Evaluation Incontinence Osteoporosis Heart Disease Sexual Dysfunction
Outcomes N= N= N= N=15
Valuable ± ± ± ±1.1
Satisfied ± ± ± ±.8
Competent ± ± ± ±.9
Objectives ± ± ± ±.7
% Correct %±5% %±17% 56 %±15% %±25%

11. Osteoporosis: Means of Post-Session Attitudinal Evaluation by Department
Variable OB/Gyn FM ES t p
N= N=14
Clinical value
Satisfaction
Competence
Objectives

12. Heart Disease: Means of Post-Session Attitudinal Evaluation by Resident Level
PGY
Variable (1, 2) (3, 4) ES t p
N= N=10
Clinical value
Satisfaction
Competence
Objectives

13. Summary of Findings
Differences were noted between levels of residency training with senior residents rating several sessions higher
High knowledge scores did not always correspond to high evaluation ratings
The clinical topics presented were equally valued by both departments
Both attitudinal evaluation ratings and knowledge scores can be used to improve future presentations

14. Conclusions
These multidisciplinary conferences provide a useful forum to discuss clinical problems common to both specialties.
Encourage collaboration, mutual respect and trust between departments.