<scp>IJGO WATOG</scp> Special Issue on Trainee‐led Research

Globally, significant disparities exist in the knowledge, attitude, and involvement of obstetrics and gynecology (ObGyn) residents/trainees in research. While some residency programs mandate participation in research as a requirement for residency progression and graduation, many others lack structured research curriculums. Heavy clinical workloads often preclude dedicated research rotations, sufficient time allocation or protected time for research activity during residency. Other barriers include lack of research mentorship and paucity of research funding in many settings. The reality is that many ObGyn trainees complete their residency ill-equipped to answer real-world clinical questions using the instrument of research and are in disadvantaged positions to pursue specialist fellowships or take up academic positions that require sound research backgrounds. This International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics (IJGO) World Association of Trainees in Obstetrics & Gynecology (WATOG) Special Collection of 25 research papers led by ObGyn trainees in 13 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania, seeks to encourage collaborative research work by and among ObGyn trainees globally, a core objective of WATOG. The idea of an IJGO WATOG Special Issue on Trainee-led Research was first hatched 2 years ago under the WATOG leadership of Dr. Elif Goknur Topcu. The initiative was fully supported and approved (in May 2024) by the IJGO Editor-in-Chief, Professor Mike Geary, and paper submissions for the Special Issue commenced and concluded between May-November 2024, during Dr. Priyankur Roy's tenure as WATOG President. A total of 67 papers were submitted by WATOG members globally, out of which 58 underwent peer-review, and 25 were accepted for publication. The 25 articles in this Special Collection include 16 original research papers/clinical articles, four narrative reviews, four case reports/brief communications and a systematic review and meta-analysis. In the first clinical article, Ubom et al.,1 highlights the role of clinical exchange programs in postgraduate ObGyn training, citing the example of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)–WATOG One World Exchange (OWE), the largest clinical exchange program for ObGyn trainees globally, which was first launched 2 years ago in Paris, France, coupled to the 2023 FIGO World Congress. Then, Leopoldo et al.2 discuss barriers in the prevention and early detection of human papillomavirus infection in eight Latin American countries. They propose solutions to identified barriers, as part of global strategies toward the elimination of cervical cancer, which remains the fourth most common cancer in women globally. The first clinical article by Erkan and her colleagues presents a retrospective review of patients who underwent a novel ultrasound guided myomectomy using ring forceps, as an alternative to hysteroscopic myomectomy, for the minimally invasive surgical treatment of large submucous myomas.3 In the second article, Erkan and Gulcicek4 discuss the link between birth interval and the severity of pelvic organ prolapse. Next is a cross-sectional study by Iweka et al.5 on the prevalence of low-dose aspirin prophylaxis and its impact on feto–maternal outcomes in a Nigerian population of preeclamptic women. On return to theater following gynecological surgeries, Sowemimo et al.6 present a UK institutional audit and review of literature. The prospective study by Kopteeva et al.7 discusses the potential role of fetal fractional limb volume as a predictor of fetal macrosomia in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus. The first clinical article by Topcu et al.8 provides national data in Turkey on immigrant women's experiences of respectful and adequate care. The subsequent three articles by Topcu et al.9-11 evaluate different aspects of ObGyn residency training. The first is on the effectiveness of a national simulation training program in obstetric emergencies in Turkey.9 The second (which I call “The WATOG Presidents Paper,” as the authorship includes all but one past and current presidents of WATOG) is a global evaluation of ObGyn residency training programs, with a focus on curriculum content, dedicated training time for the different ObGyn subspecialties, and trainee competences and satisfaction.10 The third paper focuses on reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) training exposure during ObGyn residency.11 Still on training, Alaya et al.12 report on the outcome of a teaching intervention to optimize and enhance perineal repair knowledge and teaching among obstetricians and midwives in Ireland. Three papers on ovarian research are included in this Special Issue. The first, by Bareghamyan et al.,13 highlights the prevalence of ovarian cysts and their effects on health-related quality of life in adolescent females in Armenia. Next, Marshall et al.14 present findings from their Tubo-Ovarian Abscess STudy (TOAST) in New Zealand. The third article on ovarian research, by Yu et al.,15 discusses ovarian reserve and in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes after various laparoscopic approaches in infertility patients with endometriomas and suspected compromised ovarian reserve. The last clinical article, by Gang'ombe et al.,16 draws global attention to the dangerous cultural practice of abdominal massage during pregnancy, reporting on associated adverse feto–maternal outcomes in a sub-county in Kenya. The practice remains prevalent in many other rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Two narrative reviews by Nyagaka and colleagues discuss the rare uterus didelphys bicollis bicolpos17 and the management of placenta accreta spectrum.18 The narrative review by Samara et al.19 highlights the role of heat shock proteins in placental ischemic disease. Then, Erkan et al.20 present a case series and literature review on unusual synchronous and metachronous association of hematologic neoplasms with gynecologic neoplasm. The only systematic review and meta-analysis in this Special Issue, by Michell et al.,21 evaluates the association between abnormal intrapartum FSpo2 and perinatal and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. The Special Issue concludes with four brief communications, including on nonpuerperal uterine inversion complicating a huge prolapsed submucous myoma by Abasiattai et al.,22 assisted reproductive technology in a patient with endosalpingiosis by Deligeoroglou et al.,23 histopathologic confirmation of genitourinary schistosomiasis in a hysterectomy specimen by da Silva et al.,24 and vulvar hidradenoma papilliferum by Srajer et al.25 The collection of articles in this Special Issue represents the ability of ObGyn trainees worldwide to conduct and lead evidence-based, collaborative, and potentially practice-changing research, if adequately motivated, encouraged, and supported by their seniors and institutions. It is a global call to action for all ObGyn residency training programs, program directors, seniors, and mentors to encourage, support, and make the involvement of trainees in collaborative research mandatory for residency progression and graduation to enhance the training and future career opportunities of ObGyn trainees. It is a humbling privilege to edit, finalize and publish this IJGO WATOG Special Issue (a project that has spanned three WATOG leadership tenures) during my tenure as the 5th President of WATOG. We had projected to publish 10 articles in this Special Issue but ended up with more than twice this number. I thank Professor Mike Geary, IJGO Editor-in-Chief, and the IJGO Editorial Board, without which this project would have been a pipedream; all Past Presidents of WATOG – Drs Olivier Ami (2012–2018), Atziri Ramirez-Negrin (2018–2021), Elif Goknur Topcu (2021–2023) and Priyankur Roy (2023–2024) – for supporting and contributing articles to the Special Issue; Drs Priyankur Roy and Mei Yee Ng, WATOG Honorary Secretary, for handling some of the papers submitted for publication consideration in this Special Issue, as Guest Editors; past and current WATOG Officers, Executive Board members, National Representatives, and all WATOG members for their paper submissions, and the authors of included articles for their outstanding contributions. We are immensely appreciative of the reviewers for their invaluable comments and expertise, which contributed in no small measure to the quality of papers accepted for publication in this Special Issue. It is my hope that the articles in this Special Issue will not only contribute to knowledge and evidence in the various subject areas, but also to the improvement of clinical care and outcomes, and the advancement of women's health globally. The author has no conflict of interest. Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.