Survey shows menopause curriculums lacking in residency programs

Survey shows menopause curriculums lacking in residency programs | Image Credit: © Murrstock - © Murrstock - stock.adobe.com.

According to a recent survey from The Menopause Society, more menopause education is needed in residency programs.

As medicine advances, women are expected to live longer, increasing the number of postpartum individuals. That number will continue to grow, with 90 million women in the United States expected to be postmenopausal by 2060. These women will spend about 1/3 of their life in menopause.

Despite the rising need for menopausal care, residency programs are often lacking in menopause education, leaving obstetricians and gynecologists unable to provide the proper care for postmenopausal women. A recent survey revealed the gaps in menopause educational resources.

In 2013, a needs assessment for menopause education showed many residents felt they lacked knowledge on areas of menopause care such as hormone therapy and conditions related to bone health. Only 20.8% of residents felt their program had formal menopause education.

These results were supported by the recent survey, as only 31.3% of responding obstetrics and gynecology program directors reported menopause education was included in their residents’ training. Almost 20% stated menopause curriculum was limited to a rotation block.

Lectures were used in 96.8% of menopause curriculums and assigned readings and 77.4%. Five or less menopause lectures per year were reported by all programs and 2 or less by 71%. Of respondents, 83.8% believed more menopause educational resources were needed in their program.

Investigators concluded menopause curriculum was lacking in most obstetrics and gynecology training programs in the United States, and that the lack of consistency in menopause education leads to an absence of standardized care.

“An easily accessible, standardized menopause curriculum would benefit trainees across multiple residency training programs, including obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, and family medicine, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that all women have access to competent menopause care," said Stephanie Faubion, MD, MBA medical director for The Menopause Society.”

Reference

New survey confirms need for more menopause education in residency programs. The Menopause Society. August 9, 2023. Accessed August 11, 2023. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-08-survey-menopause-residency.html#:~:text=Of%20the%20respondents%2C%2083.8%25%20agreed,residents%20to%20manage%20menopausal%20women.