title: Improving clinical breast examination training in a medical school: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: To evaluate a new program for teaching clinical breast examination, a class of 156 second-year medical students were randomized into an experimental group (practice and feedback on silicone breast models and women volunteers) and a control group (lecture only). During a simulated practical clinical examination routinely conducted at the end of the second year, the experimental group students used more suggested palpation techniques during a patient examination (4.6 vs 2.0; p < 0.0001) and found more simulated lumps in a silicone model (4.7 vs 4.4; p < 0.05). Practice with immediate feedback is more effective than lecture alone in teaching clinical breast examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Wilmington 28403-3297.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pilgrim
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lannon
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cogburn
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Fletcher
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010173:Palpation; D010808:Physical Examination; D016037:Single-Blind Method