title: Exploring medical students' attitudes towards peer physical examination.
abstract: With opportunities for dissection and examination of sick patients decreasing, the role of peer physical examination (PPE) is increasing. This study explores students' attitudes towards PPE and the relationship between attitudes and demographics. A total of 129 first-year medical students from the Peninsula Medical School completed the Examining Fellow Students (EFS) questionnaire. At least 97% of students were comfortable participating in PPE of all body parts except breast and inguinal regions. Over 20% of students were unwilling to participate in PPE of the breast and inguinal regions. Students were more comfortable with PPE within gender than across gender. Females were more likely to be uncomfortable with PPE. Further research with larger sample sizes is required to determine whether attitudes are related to age and religious faith.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Education, Peninsula Medical School, Exeter, UK. charlotte.rees@pms.ac.uk
authors.forename: Charlotte E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: McLachlan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D010808:Physical Examination; D012106:Research; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom