title: Internists training medical residents in pelvic examination: impact of an educational program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pelvic examination is an important component of the primary care of women by internists, but training beyond medical school is rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  We created an internist-run educational program for 1st-year medical residents in pelvic examination. The program consisted of 4 weekly patient-care sessions with 2 to 3 patients seen by each resident each session. Internists supervised each exam and gave real-time feedback and utilized a skills-assessment checklist during the first and last exams of the program to give comprehensive, formative feedback.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated the program using a self-assessment questionnaire concerning pelvic examination competency and attitudes, which utilized a 5-point Likert scale and was administered prior to, and 3 months after, the program. A total of 37 participants completed the program and reported improvements in competency and a trend toward an increased likelihood of performing exams.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This program, in which internists trained medical residents in pelvic examination, utilized real patients, improved participants self-assessed competency, and may increase the likelihood of residents performing pelvic examination in primary care.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Helenius
authors.forename: Cara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foldes
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McGinn
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Korenstein
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education*; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D009518:New York; D010388:Pelvis; D010808:Physical Examination; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires