Learning the thyroid examination--a multimodality intervention for internal medicine residents.
BACKGROUND
Many physicians have inadequate physical diagnosis skills and cannot detect thyroid abnormalities on physical examination.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a multimodality intervention to improve thyroid examination skills using a prospective controlled trial in first-year residents enrolled in an academic internal medicine program.


METHODS
The intervention group received a 60-minute educational session during which an endocrinologist described anatomical landmarks, thyroid abnormalities, and examination techniques using a slide show, computerized animation, videotape, and live demonstration on a volunteer with goiter. Residents examined a normal and a goitrous thyroid under the observation of a preceptor and received an evidence-based handout on the thyroid examination. The control group received no specific intervention. Examination technique and identification of thyroid abnormalities were blindly assessed in 2 stations of an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).


RESULTS
Of the 19 residents in the intervention group and the 20 in the control group, 6 (32%) and 3 (15%), respectively, observed the neck for thyroid abnormalities (P = 0.3), 17 (90%) and 16 (80%) used proper hand position (P = 0.7), and 13 (68%) and 15 (75%) had the patient swallow while the neck was palpated (P = 0.7). There was a significant difference in the mean scores based on thyroid physical findings during the OSCE between the intervention and control groups (100 vs. 52.5 [maximal possible score = 200], P = 0.047).


CONCLUSIONS
A 1-hour multimodality learning session furthered the ability of first-year internal medicine residents to detect thyroid abnormalities.
Houck
William A
WA
Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Soares-Welch
Cacia V
CV
Montori
Victor M
VM
Li
James T C
JT
D002983:Clinical Competence; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D008910:Minnesota; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology*