Teaching pediatric and adolescent gynecology: a pilot study at one institution.
OBJECTIVE
To assess resident physicians' clinical recognition skills in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology.


METHODS
1) A questionnaire to identify demographic data and self-assessment as to the ability to perform a gynecologic evaluation of children. 2) Twenty color photographs of normal genitalia and common gynecologic problems in children.


METHODS
Sixty-one University of Tennessee resident physicians; 51 from the Memphis campus--20 obstetrics-gynecology (Ob-Gyn) residents, 20 pediatrics residents, and 11 family practice residents--and 10 Ob-Gyn residents from the Chattanooga campus.


METHODS
Ability to identify normal features of the prepubertal genitalia and to diagnose common gynecologic disorders.


RESULTS
Ob-Gyn residents from the University of Tennessee, Memphis scored significantly better (58.1% correct) than did the other three groups; 38.8, 36.9, and 39.1%, respectively (p = .009). Mean performance score increased with higher pediatric gynecology PGY levels. PGY-4s performed best, whereas PGY-1s scored the lowest, with mean scores of 57.5% and 35.3%, respectively (p = .021). Residents who reported having a well-defined program in pediatric gynecology scored significantly better than those who did not have such a program, 55.3% and 39.5%, respectively (p < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
A well-defined program in pediatric gynecology enhances resident education and provides them with better tools to perform gynecologic evaluations of children and adolescents.
Muram
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D
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38103, USA.
Jones
C E
CE
Hostetler
B R
BR
Crisler
C L
CL
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D010865:Pilot Projects