Are entering obstetrics/gynecology residents more similar to the entering primary care or surgery resident workforce?

Objective: We compared demographic characteristics of first-year residents entering obstetrics/gynecology with those entering primary care and surgery.

Methods: We analyzed first-year residents from the 1997-2004 National Graduate Medical Education Census. Multivariable logistic regression models identified independent associations between obstetrics/gynecology residency (compared with primary care and surgery) and demographic predictor variables.

Results: More than 90% of studied programs completed the National Graduate Medical Education Census for 146,174 first-year residents. Graduates of US allopathic medical schools, women, African Americans, and entering residents in 2003 and 2004 were more likely to enter obstetrics/gynecology than primary care; Asians were less likely to enter obstetrics/gynecology than primary care. Women, African Americans, and Hispanics were more likely to enter obstetrics/gynecology than surgery; trainees who were Asian, "other" race/ethnicity, and entered residency from 1999-2004 were less likely to enter obstetrics/gynecology than surgery.

Conclusions: Demographic characteristics of incoming obstetrics/gynecology-residents differed significantly from both primary care and surgery residents. Obstetrics/gynecology should be a unique category in physician workforce studies.