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Are entering obstetrics/gynecology residents more similar to the entering primary care or surgery resident workforce?

McAlister RP, Andriole DA, Brotherton SE, Jeffe DB

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Medical Association, Chicago, IL, USA. mcalisterr@wustl.edu <mcalisterr@wustl.edu>

OBJECTIVE: We compared demographic characteristics of first-year residents entering obstetrics/gynecology with those entering primary care and surgery. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed first-year residents from the 1997-2004 National Graduate Medical Education Census. Multivariable logistic regression models identified independent associations between obstetrics/gynecology residency (compared with primary care and surgery) and demographic predictor variables. RESULTS: More than 90% of studied programs completed the National Graduate Medical Education Census for 146,174 first-year residents. Graduates of US allopathic medical schools, women, African Americans, and entering residents in 2003 and 2004 were more likely to enter obstetrics/gynecology than primary care; Asians were less likely to enter obstetrics/gynecology than primary care. Women, African Americans, and Hispanics were more likely to enter obstetrics/gynecology than surgery; trainees who were Asian, "other" race/ethnicity, and entered residency from 1999-2004 were less likely to enter obstetrics/gynecology than surgery. CONCLUSION: Demographic characteristics of incoming obstetrics/gynecology-residents differed significantly from both primary care and surgery residents. Obstetrics/gynecology should be a unique category in physician workforce studies.

Published 5 November 2007 in Am J Obstet Gynecol, 197(5): 536.e1-6.
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