Experience and attitudes of final-year medical students to digital rectal examination.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the attitudes of final-year medical students to digital rectal examination (DRE) and their experience of performing DRE during clinical training.


METHODS
Questionnaire-based survey.


METHODS
All students in the final year of medical school at the University of Melbourne in 2003.


METHODS
Agreement with statements about attitude to DRE; number of DREs performed and abnormalities palpated; and ratings of frequency of supervision and perceived barriers to performing DRE.


RESULTS
222 of 256 students (87%) responded. Almost all (97%) believed that DRE is an essential requirement for a medical practitioner, and 94% that they should have the skill before graduating, while 92% said they had been taught how to perform it. The median number of DREs performed was two, with 17% of students performing none. Sixty-three per cent had palpated a prostate, 24% a prostate cancer, 19% a rectal tumour, and 11% faecal constipation. Half the students (52%) felt they could give a reasonable or confident opinion based on their DRE findings. The most often cited reason for not performing DREs was the lack of a doctor to act as a supervisor.


CONCLUSIONS
A concerted effort is needed from academics, supervising doctors and students to improve medical students' proficiency in performing DRE and confidence about their findings.
Lawrentschuk
Nathan
N
Department of Surgery and Urology, University of Melbourne, Austin Hospital, Studley Rd, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia. nayjay@ozemail.com.au
Bolton
Damien M
DM
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003625:Data Collection; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000592:standards*; D012007:Rectum; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires