Preclinical Labor-and-Delivery Shadowing: The Impact on Medical Students' Perceptions of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Objective  We sought to determine the impact of preclinical exposure (shadowing) to labor and delivery (L&D) on medical students' perceptions of obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN). Study Design  We administered a written survey to rising third-year medical students at a single center prior to any clerkship. We described motivation/deterrents for shadowing among students, and experiences/perceptions of those students who shadowed. Results  In total, 119/136 (86%) students completed the survey. Of those, 29% participated in shadowing on LD p Conclusion  Students who have L&D shadowing exposure report very positive experiences and express desire for increased opportunities. OB/GYN departments may consider increasing availability of L&D shadowing opportunities for preclinical medical students.