ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The implications of the feminisation of medicine, which is characterised by a growing proportion of female doctors, is a topic currently being debated worldwide. To date, however, there has been no systematic survey of the viewpoint of present and future doctors on this subject. The aim of the present study is to determine how future and present doctors view this trend in terms of its relevance to the medical profession and its present impacts. METHODS: Of a total sample of 3813 people, 181 applicants for the winter term 2014, 590 medical students and 225 doctors of the UMG participated in this cross-sectional electronic questionnaire. The answers were analysed by means of the statistics program IBM SPSS Statistics 22. Open answers were qualitatively evaluated and categorised using the "Basiswissengeleitete offene Kategorienfindung" (Werner Früh) and coded for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The majority of our participants favoured a balanced gender-ratio among doctors: 77% of applicants, 68% of students and 61% of doctors rated this as important or very important. The results from the student and applicant groups differed concerning female gender. When answering in the role of a patient, the doctor's gender was found to be more relevant than when the participants were answering in the role of the doctor. The majority of the respondents opined that feminisation had had an impact on their workplace: particular factors included part-time work, work-related organisation and the diversity of the medical profession. Commentaries were mostly categorised as negative. CONCLUSIONS: The feminisation of medicine was viewed largely critically by the participants of this study. The respondents evaluated gender as being relevant for the medical profession and favoured a diverse workforce; however, the significance of one's own gender in medical practice was underrated in comparison, implying a need for more awareness of the effect of a doctor's gender on the patient-doctor-relationship. The mainly negative comments concerning the impact of feminisiation on work organisation, work satisfaction and patient care show the need for further research and action to adapt current medical work practices to the changing demographics in order to improve work satisfaction and quality of care.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Medical Staff/psychology , Physicians, Women/statistics & numerical data , Students, Medical/psychology , Career Choice , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Germany , Humans , Male , Sex Distribution , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: University teaching in ophthalmology has tended to focus on imparting knowledge rather than practical skills. The new skills laboratory at the University Medical Center in Göttingen enables practical skills to be taught. The focus is on basic skills that could help all physicians. The learning goals set are techniques considered basic in ophthalmology that can be mastered without requiring any physician to operate major equipment. METHODS: The design and results from four semesters of an ophthalmological objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) following students engaged in peer-teaching, as well as feedback from a student questionnaire are described. RESULTS: Practical skills can successfully be taught and mastered within 1 week and 68-100 % of all students achieved the maximum scores in the individual tests. The OSCE and peer- eaching were well received by the students. CONCLUSIONS: Practical skills and peer teaching fulfill student educational goals in ophthalmology and are well accepted by undergraduates.
Subject(s)
Education, Medical, Undergraduate/standards , Educational Measurement/standards , Ophthalmology/education , Ophthalmology/standards , Problem-Based Learning/standards , Teaching/standards , GermanyABSTRACT
Eighteen knee replacements in 15 patients with severe gonarthritis or loosening of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) requiring bone grafting for bony deficiencies were studied before and after operation. The average follow-up was 2.4 years. Fifteen knees showed satisfactory clinical and radiographic results of the integration of the bone grafts. The Hospital for Special Surgery knee score improved from an average of 39 points preoperatively to 83 points at the most recent follow-up examination. Two of 3 knees with loosening of the tibial component required revision. These results are encouraging. Success depends as much on rigid fixation of the grafted bone and protected weight-bearing as on rigid, micromotion-preventing fixation of the tibial component.
