title: Vaginal and speculum examination in medical curricula.
abstract: Medical students' perception of their own psychomotor skills and attitudes to different methods of teaching the gynaecological examination were studied. Students rated their physical skills poorly, only 7% feeling confident they could detect an abnormality and only 14% considering their ability to perform a Pap smear was good or very good. They rated their doctor/patient skills better, 55% considering they are good at conducting an examination with sensitivity and 67% at explaining to their patient what they were doing and why. Students' first preference for instruction was to examine patients in the Outpatient Clinic under the supervision of a doctor, a method experienced by most students on one occasion. The next preferred method was for students to work with 2 trained gynaecological assistants, acting as patient and instructor, with discussion of feelings and feedback (see Subjects and Methods). The option of student volunteers was a least favoured method but was cited as first preference by 5% of students. Over 25% of the female students considered volunteering for vaginal examination a 'possibility' if they were examined by a student of the same sex. Over 25% of males would 'possibly' volunteer for rectal examination only if the same sex was present. The comments by the students offer help in the future planning of teaching vaginal examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sydney, New South Wales.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abraham
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014621:Vagina