Addressing OB/GYN family planning educational objectives at a faith-based institution using the TEACH program

Background: Traditionally family planning education is limited for obstetrics and gynecology residents training at faith-based institutions. We describe the first formalized educational program to teach contraception, sterilization, and abortion at a Catholic institution. Study Design: We used a six-step curricular development process to design this formal educational intervention. We created a multiple-choice test that participants completed before and after the workshop. We compared average test scores using one-way analyses of variance and assessed psychometric properties of the test. Results: All 16 obstetrics and gynecology residents at this institution participated in the one-day educational program entitled Teaching Everything About Contraceptive Health (TEACH). Residents improved their pre-test scores, on average, from 57% prior to the workshop to 89% immediately after completion of TEACH (p<.001). Improvement persisted 10 months after completion of the program (p<.001). Psychometric assessment supported the use of the instrument with adequate question difficulty and high discrimination. Conclusions: A one day curriculum designed to introduce family planning learning objectives at a Catholic obstetrics and gynecology residency program is feasible and results in improved resident knowledge.