Funding outcome

Women who experience physical disabilities often face barriers when getting obstetric and gynecology (OB/GYN) care. Some parts of OB/GYN care, like pelvic exams or birth planning, may need special equipment, extra time, or unique ways of working with patients. If doctors are not trained for these needs, care can be uncomfortable, unsafe, or delayed. These experiences can make women feel overlooked or unsupported. Many women experience physical disability, but OB/GYN training often does not prepare doctors to care for them. About 1 in 3 women in Canada experience physical disability. Many of them will need OB/GYN care. But most OB/GYN residents (86%) say they have never had formal teaching on how to care for these patients. As a result, many OB/GYN doctors feel unprepared and must learn on the job. Our study focuses on OB/GYN residents training at the University of Alberta. We will speak with residents in one-on-one interviews. We want to learn how prepared they feel to care for women experiencing physical disability. We also want to know what training they think is missing. Residents will share their experiences and ideas for learning opportunities that would help them provide better OB/GYN care. By listening to their views, we will find gaps in education and ways to improve training. This work will help make training stronger and more useful for doctors. The goal of our study is to improve OB/GYN training. We want future OB/GYN doctors to have the knowledge and skills they need to care for women with physical disabilities. By understanding gaps in education, we hope patients will get safe, respectful, and high-quality care. Improving OB/GYN training can help more women get the care they deserve now and in the future.