Electronic textbook Obstetrics and Gynecology for medical students

The purpose of this publication is to describe the success, which you find at Obstetrics and Gynecology - online textbook for medical students - sundhed.dk, an easily accessible, up to date Obstetrics and Gynecology teaching for medical students including international students in the Nordic countries. 
In 2018, NFOG (the Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology) decided to finance the production of an electronic textbook for medical students by 1,000,000 Danish kr.: 
 
Text, illustrations, learning principles to be aligned with the curricula for obstetrics and gynecology in Nordic medical schools (and the needs of GPs and junior doctors outside our specialty, but not trainees in obstetrics and gynecology or midwives). 
Author fee: none. 
 
Availability 
 
On the internet, for computer, tablet and smartphone. No paper version published. 
Based on modern pedagogic principles not addressed in traditional printed books. 
Free access to the platform (open source). 
Each chapter written by a set of subspecialist authors from three or more Nordic countries. 
 
The editorial committee 
 
Included members from each Nordic country (the authors of this publication). 
Distributed relevant topics among 32 obstetrical and 28 gynecological chapters. 
Appointed a maximum number of words for each chapter. 
Enrolled about 187 authors. 
 
Electronic platform for publication 
 
dk, even though some book companies offer platform with more features. However, sundhed.dk guarantees reliability and offers this service for free. 
 
Videos and illustrations 
 
We engaged two gynecologists, Jørgen Præst for video editing and Lotte Clevin who is also a professional illustrator. The use of good colleagues ensured the relevance of the products. 
 
Formalities 
 
We hired a law firm to elaborate collaboration agreements. That was necessary with these international stakeholders. 
 
Language revision 
 
An obstetrician/gynecologist (Reynir Tómas Geirsson, former AOGS Chief Editor) delivered text editing. 
 
Multiple-choice questions 
 
 
 
A medical student (Thomas Jensen) established a platform for MCQ. Authors, professors, associate professors, and medical students are encouraged to add new MCQ to this collection. We publish them as soon as the authors have approved the suggestion. 
 
 



Introduction
The purpose of this publication is to describe the success, which you find at Obstetrics and Gynecology -online textbook for medical students -sundhed.dk,an easily accessible, up to date Obstetrics and Gynecology teaching for medical students including international students in the Nordic countries.
In 2018, NFOG (the Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology) decided to finance the production of an electronic textbook for medical students by 1,000,000 Danish kr.: • Text, illustrations, learning principles to be aligned with the curricula for obstetrics and gynecology in Nordic medical schools (and the needs of GPs and junior doctors outside our specialty, but not trainees in obstetrics and gynecology or midwives).

Method
The editorial committee

Authors
• It was relatively easy to identify authors.The sacrifices of Royalty and ownership were only minor issue.Furthermore, they accepted the word limitation.The challenge was time as these people are highly engaged with research, clinical work and life.For that reason, a few of them resigned during the process and for that reason, some chapters were not included when we launched the textbook in 2021.They were, however, included afterwards.

Sundhed.dk
• The collaboration worked flawlessly.Our contact members always did their very best and helped whenever possible.However, when we asked for new features like index, search options, and layout improvements, we realized that the direction did not give the textbook a high priority.We are convinced that they will meet our wishes when possible.Response from the medical students • We have not yet conducted a systematic survey among the medical students in the Nordic countries.However, we have received feedback from many students and teachers.• Most students know the NFOG textbook.
At most Nordic medical schools, it is on the list of relevant textbooks.At some of them, it is given first priority.• The students appreciated that it is free.
However, this seems not crucial.• We do not know, whether the students use the electronic textbook as the primary textbook or whether they use it as a supplementary because of the videos, the illustrations, the MCQ, and the accessibility.• Most students like the electronic format, but some miss the feeling of a physical book with personal notes.The readability at smartphones is appreciated in situations where you have no access to books (ward rounds, in the bus).• A significant fraction of the students prefers a book in their own language.To compensate a little for that, we have included a dictionary giving Nordic words for specific English terms (Dictionary in English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish and Icelandic.-sundhed.dk).Furthermore, at several medical schools, the Ob&Gyn course is offered at an international semester delivered in English.The international students at these courses appreciate the textbook.

•
The MCQ platform (NFOG MCQ) now includes 588 questions.Many students use them for examination preparation.Unfortunately, not many authors nor teachers have provided MCQs.Therefore, most MCQs are made by members of the editorial board or collected from former exams in Bergen and Aarhus.We encourage all colleagues to add more MCQs.• The textbook is now established as a NFOG-committee, why it is funded by 100,000 Danish kr per year for further development.Perspectives Feedback • We want to give the authors feedback at each specific chapter: cover the curriculum, stick to the curriculum, illustrations, videos, pedagogics etc. Hopefully, we can engage medical students and colleagues in this.Pedagogics • We want to address wishes including podcasts and gamification.Google • The textbook is relatively easy to Google in English but so far not in the Nordic languages.• Index and search function: Hopefully, sundhed.dk will develop these features.Authors • Most authors are not that young.Therefore, we want to include younger colleagues in this electronic textbook.