Objective: To survey French trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology on the type of short and long-term professional activity they wish to have following specialisation.
Material and methods: A questionnaire was sent to the 909 trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology during the academic year 2005-2006.
Results: Answer rate was 34.5%. Almost all trainees (96.5%) wish to have a two-year hospital position before applying for consultant or beginning a private practice. Only 55.6% of these trainees think this option realistic. Overall, 78.7% of trainees wish to continue practicing obstetrics, 66.9% surgery, 41.4% ultrasound screening or prenatal diagnosis, 34.1% office gynaecology, 28% oncogynaecology and 23.6% assisted medical procreation. An exclusive public hospital position was desired by 51.6% of trainees, with 45.1% in academic hospitals and 54.9% in non academic hospitals. Exclusive private practice was desired by 8.9% of trainees and 47.7% wish a private practice with a part-time public hospital position.
Conclusion: Actual trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology see their future practice as polyvalent, mostly in public hospitals and including for most at least obstetrics.