The Impact of COVID-19 on the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinical Clerkship Experience

Background The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many aspects of medical education; however, there is currently no published literature describing the pandemic's impact on the obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) clerkship experience. The purpose of this study was to survey medical students at the University of Toronto who completed their OBGYN rotation during the pandemic to gain perspective on how it impacted their clerkship experience. Methods An anonymous, voluntary survey regarding the OBGYN clerkship experience was circulated to all University of Toronto medical students who completed their clerkships between September 2020 and August 2021. Data was collected between December 3, 2021 and January 3, 2022. Results Of the 255 students surveyed, 95 (36.4%) responded. Among them, 57 (64%) reported increased stress during their clerkship, while 40 (44.9%) found their OBGYN rotation to be more stressful than other rotations. Additionally, 30 (33.7%) indicated that the pandemic led them to question their choice of medicine as a career. Regarding the quality of their OBGYN rotation, 21 (24.4%) noticed a significant change, with 29 (33.7%) attributing this to a lack of patients and 35 (40.7%) expressing concerns about acquiring hands-on skills. A thematic analysis of student responses identified four key themes: Virtual Learning, Clinical Workload and Volume, Surgical Cancellations, and Caring for Patients During COVID. Conclusions The pandemic has had a significant impact on the OBGYN clerkship experience and student well-being. This study highlights several quality concerns, including reduced clinical volumes and limited hands-on learning opportunities, particularly in gynecology.