Body Image and Sexual Function Improve after Both Myomectomy and Hysterectomy for Symptomatic Fibroids.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the factors that influence the choice of myomectomy, uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), or hysterectomy in women with symptomatic uterine fibroids and to assess women's perception of body image and sexual functioning before and after treatment. METHODS: In this prospective observational cohort pilot study, women scheduled to undergo hysterectomy, myomectomy, or UFE were surveyed before surgery and again at 3 to 6 months after their procedure to assess body image and sexual function using the validated 10-item Body Image Scale and 19-item Female Sexual Function Index. Logistic regression was used to determine predictive factors for surgery choice and paired t tests were used to determine changes in perceived sexual function and body image. RESULTS: Of the 71 women surveyed, 69 underwent their scheduled procedure and 68 participants completed the preoperative questionnaire completely (98%). A total of 33 participants completed the postoperative questionnaire (49%). The predictive factor for hysterectomy versus myomectomy/UFE was older age (odds ratio 1.13, P = 0.017, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.24). Regardless of surgery type, there were significant improvements in perceived body image and sexual function, including an increase in the overall sexual satisfaction of the participant (mean difference 0.50, P = 0.021, 95% CI 0.92-0.08) and less likely to feel less sexually attractive because of their menstrual bleeding problem (P < 0.0001, 95% CI 0.637-1.675). CONCLUSIONS: Women of older age are more likely to choose hysterectomy over myomectomy or UFE for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids. In addition, women who underwent any treatment for fibroids have increases in perception of body image and sexual functioning after their procedure.

A Game Show-Based Curriculum for Teaching Principles of Reproductive Infectious Disease (GBS PRIDE Trial).

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a game show-based curriculum improves obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) residents' confidence in and understanding of the principles of reproductive infectious disease (RID), clinical manifestations and sequelae of sexually transmitted infection (STI), and management of serious long-term consequences of STIs. METHODS: A game show-based curriculum was developed from the basic principles of RID, which include the following: (1) distinguishing between clinical manifestations of STIs and management of long-term sequelae of STIs; (2) evaluation and management of common gynecologic infectious diseases, including chronic vaginitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and other pelvic infections; (3) diagnosis and management of perinatal infectious diseases, such as parvovirus, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, human immunodeficiency virus, toxoplasmosis, and infection-mediated prematurity; (4) evaluation and management of obstetric and gynecologic postoperative infections; and (5) diagnosis and management of acute and chronic human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus infections in pregnancy. OBGYN residents at a large urban academic training program were randomized to either a Jeopardy-style educational game show intervention plus a traditional didactic-based curriculum or traditional didactic-based curriculum alone. The study team recruited participants by sending out an e-mail to all of the residents, detailing the study and consent process. Participants from both the intervention and control groups completed confidence and knowledge-based pretests. Posttests were administered 4 weeks after completion of the pretests. Statistical methods were applied to analyze the data. RESULTS: Thirty-eight residents were randomized to a Jeopardy-style game show-based educational intervention (n = 19) or to a traditional didactic-based curriculum (n = 19). All of the participants (100%) completed the pre- and posttests. Pretest median scores were similar between both groups, in which the Jeopardy group had a median score of 48.5 and the traditional group had a median score of 51.4 (P = 0.091). The Jeopardy group median test scores improved between the pretest and posttest (48.5 vs 62.8, P ≤ 0.001). The traditional didactic-based curriculum had a minimal increase in its median posttest scores (51.4 compared with 54.2, P = 0.773). The Jeopardy group had significantly higher posttest median scores and confidence scores than the traditional didactic-based curriculum (Jeopardy = 62.8, traditional = 54.2, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: A game show-based curriculum improves OBGYN residents' confidence and retention of knowledge regarding RIDs, clinical manifestations and sequelae of STIs, and management of serious long-term consequences of STIs. Additional studies that include longer posttest time intervals are needed to assess the longer-term impact of game show-based curriculum on knowledge retention among OBGYN residents.

A bundled intervention lowers surgical site infection in hysterectomy for benign and malignant indications.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a surgical site infection (SSI) prevention bundle on SSI rates after hysterectomy for benign and malignant indications at an urban academic medical center. METHODS: The bundled invention was implemented for all abdominal gynecologic surgeries at Prentice Women's Hospital, Chicago, USA, from August 2016 to January 2017, and officially incorporated in department-wide policy from February 1, 2017. SSI data were prospectively collected for any open, vaginal, laparoscopic, or robotic hysterectomy for benign or malignant indications performed from February 2017 to January 2018. A retrospective review of all hysterectomies performed from February 2015 to January 2016 was conducted to establish baseline pre-bundle SSI data. RESULTS: Among 532 hysterectomies performed post-bundle implementation, there were two SSIs. By contrast, there were 14 SSIs among 515 hysterectomies in the same period before bundle implementation, representing a decrease in SSI rate from 2.7% to 0.4% (odds ratio, 7.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.67-32.75). The two SSIs in the post-bundle period occurred in open hysterectomies, whereas 8 (57.1%) SSIs in the pre-bundle period occurred in minimally invasive hysterectomies. CONCLUSION: An SSI prevention bundle was effective for reducing the SSI rate in hysterectomy for both benign and malignant indications.

Factors that Influence Applicants Pursuing a Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (FMIGS) has been the most competitive fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology since 2015. Since its inception, it has served to provide advanced endoscopic training and addresses the need for additional proficiency beyond residency. We sought to identify factors that influence applicants in choosing to pursue minimally invasive gynecologic surgery training. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: 2018 FMIGS application cycle. PATIENTS: Not applicable. INTERVENTIONS: A novel, 32-item Web-based survey was distributed to all FMIGS applicants during the 2018 application cycle. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the applicant sample and responses. Our survey response rate was 47.4% (37/78). Interest in the subject area of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery was the single most influential factor driving applicants to pursue FMIGS, followed by an interest in an academic career. Income level was the least important factor in their decision, with 37.8% rating this as not important. There were no differences in motivational factors between male and female applicants. Few applicants felt "very comfortable" performing laparoscopic hysterectomy (16.2%) or laparoscopic myomectomy (3.0%) on completion of residency training. CONCLUSION: FMIGS applicants are motivated by their interest in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, academia and research, and the opportunity to increase their proficiency with advanced endoscopic procedures.

Quality of communication in interpreted versus noninterpreted PICU family meetings.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the quality of physician-family communication during interpreted and noninterpreted family meetings in the PICU. DESIGN: Prospective, exploratory, descriptive observational study of noninterpreted English family meetings and interpreted Spanish family meetings in the pediatric intensive care setting. SETTING: A single, university-based, tertiary children's hospital. SUBJECTS: Participants in PICU family meetings, including medical staff, family members, ancillary staff, and interpreters. INTERVENTIONS: Thirty family meetings (21 English and nine Spanish) were audio-recorded, transcribed, de-identified, and analyzed using the qualitative method of directed content analysis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Quality of communication was analyzed in three ways: 1) presence of elements of shared decision-making, 2) balance between physician and family speech, and 3) complexity of physician speech. Of the 11 elements of shared decision-making, only four occurred in more than half of English meetings, and only three occurred in more than half of Spanish meetings. Physicians spoke for a mean of 20.7 minutes, while families spoke for 9.3 minutes during English meetings. During Spanish meetings, physicians spoke for a mean of 14.9 minutes versus just 3.7 minutes of family speech. Physician speech complexity received a mean grade level score of 8.2 in English meetings compared to 7.2 in Spanish meetings. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of physician-family communication during PICU family meetings is poor overall. Interpreted meetings had poorer communication quality as evidenced by fewer elements of shared decision-making and greater imbalance between physician and family speech. However, physician speech may be less complex during interpreted meetings. Our data suggest that physicians can improve communication in both interpreted and noninterpreted family meetings by increasing the use of elements of shared decision-making, improving the balance between physician and family speech, and decreasing the complexity of physician speech.