Training in the diagnosis and management of vulvovaginal diseases
Murphy, R.
Journal of Reproductive Medicine 52(2): 87-92
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0024-7758 PMID: 17393767 Document Number: 614312
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the training of clinical members of the British Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Diseases (BSSVD) and International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD) and report how the future training in this subspecialty could be improved.STUDY DESIGN: The research tool was a 23-stem questionnaire addressing 3 key domains: current clinical practice, past training experiences and the improvement of future training in vulvar disorders. Particular emphasis was given to how competency in vulvar diseases should be determined and whether there should be a generic vulvar curriculum.RESULTS: The response rates were 25% (42/169)from members of the ISSVD, 59% (100/168)from members of the BSS VD and 5% (16/327) from those who are members of both organizations. The overall response rate was 38% (127/337). Eighty percent (101/127) practiced in the U.K. Overall, 37/127 (29%) of the respondents admitted to being self-taught. One hundred eleven of 127 (87%) respondents were infavor of a generic vulvar curriculum, 95/127 (75%) respondents suggested that vulvar disease training should be assessed, and 106/127 (83.5%) of the respondents supported an ISSVD/BSSVD postgraduate training fellowship. This study was the first to record the suboptimal teaching and training experiences of practitioners with an interest in vulvar disorders. The respondents were in favor of improving training in the future.