Obstetrics / Gynecology

Core Knowledge & Elements of Osteopathic Principles in the Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Content Outline and Assessment Objectives

The Obstetrics/Gynecology examination is designed for end-of-course or end-of-clinical rotation/clerkship assessment for students enrolled at a college of osteopathic medicine (COM). Individual COMs may also administer the examination at other times in accord with their curriculum goals and mission. This examination emphasizes core knowledge and elements of osteopathic principles and practice in the discipline of Obstetrics/Gynecology that are essential for the pre-doctoral osteopathic medical student. The exam blueprint below contains the Obstetrics/Gynecology topics covered in two dimensions: Dimension 1 – Patient Presentation and Dimension 2 – Physician Tasks.

Dimension 1: Patient Presentation

Topic	%
Abnormal Obstetrics	20–30%
General Gynecology	25–35%
Gynecologic Oncology	5–15%
Normal Obstetrics	15–25%
Reproductive Endocrinology	10–20%

Dimension 2: Physician Tasks

Topic	%
Diagnosis & Management / Pap Smear & DNA testing	35–45%
History & Physical Examination / Communication & Interaction	40–50%
Preventive Care / Health Maintenance	10–15%
Secondary Overarching Topics	1–5%

General Learner-Centered Objectives

Based on general learner-centered objectives, as outlined in the Obstetrics/Gynecology Examination Blueprint, the examinee will be required to demonstrate the ability to apply:

1. Foundational content knowledge to situations and patient presentations encountered in clinical settings and important to Obstetrics/Gynecology.
2. Foundational content knowledge and clinical problem-solving ability related to particular physician tasks critical to Obstetrics/Gynecology.
3. Knowledge and clinical problem-solving as related to the Fundamental Osteopathic Medical Competency Domains, including osteopathic principles and practice and OMT, osteopathic medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, practice-based learning and improvement, systems-based practice, professionalism and patient care.
4. Osteopathic principles and practice in commonly encountered patient care scenarios.

Selected Specific Learner-Centered Objectives for Obstetrics/Gynecology

For Obstetrics and Gynecology, the examinee will be required to demonstrate the ability to diagnose and manage selected patient presentations and clinical situations involving, but not limited to:

1. Abnormal Obstetrics: abnormal labor, spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy and third-trimester bleeding
2. General Gynecology: normal gynecology, family planning, adolescent issues and development, issues of domestic violence and sexual assault, breast diseases, vulvar/vaginal diseases, sexually transmitted infections, urinary tract disorders, screening and preventive care, menstrual cycle and premenstrual syndrome, somatic dysfunction and viscerosomatic relationships
3. Gynecologic Oncology: cervical, uterine and ovarian disease and neoplasm and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia
4. Normal Obstetrics: preconception, antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum care; history and physical examination; maternal-fetal physiology; preventive care, nutrition and lactation
5. Reproductive Endocrinology: menopause, normal/abnormal uterine bleeding, and infertility

Selected Student and Faculty Learning Resources for Obstetrics/Gynecology

In addition to the aforementioned objectives, examples of supplementary resources used by the NBOME to inform the development of the Obstetrics/Gynecology exam are listed below:

• Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO) – Medical Student Educational Objectives for Students
• American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG) – Basic Standards for Residency Training in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Practice Examination

The Obstetrics and Gynecology Practice Exam is primarily designed to assist the candidate in navigating through the examination, and it is provided to facilitate the actual testing experience. It is not designed to give the candidate a score or provide information about how a candidate might actually perform on the examination. When an answer choice is selected, it will not be recorded for scoring and the selection will not be saved once another item is viewed. If you wish to track your answer choices, you must record them on your own. A special function is provided that allows you to view the correct answer for each item by clicking on the “Show Answer” button located below the answer choices. The “Show Answer” button will not appear on the actual examination.

Launch the Obstetrics and Gynecology Practice Exam

Additional Resources

Title	Author	Edition	Year
Comprehensive Gynecology	Lobo, Gershenson, & Lentz	8th	2021
Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies	Landon et al.	8th	2020
Essentials of Obstetrics and Gynecology	Hacker	6th	2016
An Osteopathic Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment	DiGiovanna, Amen, & Burns	4th	2020
Foundations of Osteopathic Medicine	Seffinger	4th	2019