Abstract Title Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine Procedural Doula Program Nicole Acero MD PGY-1, Gwendolyn Glatz MS-3, Madeline Breda MSc MS-4 PI: Dr. Melissa Figueroa MD MPH

Background Minor gynecologic procedures are increasingly being conducted in the outpatient office setting. Patients’ comfort is crucial for performing a safe procedure. Evidence on the effectiveness of pharmacologic interventions for pain and anxiety control is conflicting and the evidence on the effect of non-pharmacologic interventions is lacking. Research in this area presents a unique opportunity to benefit both patients and students: pre-clinical medical students have limited opportunities for patient interaction, especially during more intimate procedures such as the pelvic exam. The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (HMSOM) Procedural Doula Program (PDP) seeks to train and employ medical students as volunteer doulas for office gynecologic procedures with the goal of assessing whether doula support positively affects patients’ experiences of pain, anxiety, and treatment satisfaction.

Methods After each patient consents to participation, they will fill out a demographic data survey. They will also be given a survey to assess pre-procedure and post-procedure pain and anxiety when registering for the appointment, and again 10 minutes after the procedure. The survey will include the 100-mm visual analog scale and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Data will be de-identified and entered into RedCap. Surveys will be collected from students via Redcap upon commitment to the program prior to initiating doula training and again after 6 months. Surveys will include a self-assessed 5 point Likert scale and will be administered to assess improvement in communication skills, clinical knowledge and skills. This research protocol is IRB-approved (Pro2023-0503). Results We anticipate that doula support will significantly decrease the pain and anxiety patients experience during in-office gynecologic procedures, as well as improve their overall satisfaction. We also anticipate that this program will improve medical students’ comfort and ability with patient communication and advocacy, as well as increase their clinical knowledge and skills in an area of OBGYN where students historically have limited experience.

Conclusion This research project has the potential to offer gynecology patients another source of support in managing anxiety during stressful and uncomfortable procedures. It also offers pre-clinical medical students the opportunity to interact with real life patients, helping them form their communication skills and clinical knowledge foundation, both in service of current gynecology patients as well as their future patients.