Reproductive Endocrinology
Sindoora Jayaprakash 1 , Saskia Wicks 2 , Jameela Sheikh 3 , Nawal Zia 3 , Meghnaa Hebbar 3 , Alisha Narendran 3 , Halimah Khalil 3 , Eka Melson 4 , Caroline D.T. Gillett 5 & Punith Kempegowda 5
1Russells Hall Hospital; [email protected]; 2Barts Health NHS Trust, London; 3College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham; 4Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, DD1 9SY Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham; 5Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham)
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine conditions affecting women of reproductive age. Recent studies have shown several long term comorbidities associated with PCOS, thus making it essential that all physicians, regardless of training and specialty, understand and empower women with PCOS to adopt evidence-based behavioral changes. This study set out to establish an understanding of evidence-based lifestyle management of PCOS and the current practices of implementing it in clinical practice amongst final year medical students and newly graduated healthcare professionals. A total 67 participants took part in the survey (41 female and 25 male; medical students (21%), foundation doctors (64%) and senior house officers (15%); 34% from London deanery and 27% from the West Midlands deanery). 54% (n=36) knew the correct prevalence of PCOS. Although 70% (n=47) knew biochemical androgen excess is a sign of PCOS, only 43% (n=28) and 1% (n=1) knew free testosterone and free androgen index respectively, were the tests of choice to diagnose this. Instead, androstenedione (52% (n=35) and DHEAS (43% (n=29) were the most common biochemical tests of choice by this cohort. Interestingly, 55% (n37) said they would use AMH as a test to diagnose PCOS. Although most of the participants knew that BMI 94% (n=63) and waist circumference 95% (n=64) required routine monitoring between 6-12 months for PCOS, only 6% (n=4) were aware of the national recommendations for exercise. 36% (n=26) identified obesity and T2DM as the most common long term effects of PCOS. Our study highlights that physicians and medical students have a limited understanding of the international evidence-based recommendations for PCOS. More work needs to be done to incorporate the PCOS education at the level of medical schools with the aim of improving clinical outcomes.
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Endocrine Abstracts
ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)
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