AN EVALUATION OF GENITOURINARY MEDICINE (GUM) WEBINARS FOR PROSPECTIVE GUM TRAINEES

Introduction

Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) had a specialty recruitment fill rate of just 28% in 2020. The Student and Trainee Association of Sexual Health and HIV (STASHH) formed in 2021 with the aim to improve recruitment to GUM. One aspect of STASHH is to provide monthly, educational webinars, showcasing areas of sexual health and HIV. These sessions have been evaluated.

Methods

Attendees provided event feedback via an online questionnaire using MedAll. Data collation and quantitative data analysis was performed in Excel. Free-text questionnaire responses were analysed thematically.

Results

163 questionnaires were reviewed from 93 (57%) pre-specialty doctors (PSDs); 34 (20.9%) medical students (MSs); and 36 (22.1%) others including allied health professionals. Self-reported topic interest before and after each event demonstrated high baseline interest and a mean increase of 9.3% (range 6.8-11.5%) across events. MS and PSD attendees reported motivation to attend was furthering education, lack of exposure to topics in previous medical education and an interest in Sexual Health and HIV. PSD attendees also reported attending in order to improve the quality of care they deliver. Attendees have suggested future topics webinars about common GUM presentations and how these intersect with different demographics and risk groups.

Discussion

Feedback from these webinars demonstrated interest in GUM at MS and PSD level. The webinar series has increased interest in the topic-areas discussed. Attendees want more GUM education than they currently receive in their undergraduate curriculum and/or training.