Intimate examination teaching with volunteers: implementation and assessment at the University of Antwerp.
OBJECTIVE
Teaching intimate physical examinations in medical schools generates practical, didactical and ethical problems. At the University of Antwerp, a unique program with intimate examination assistants (IEA) was implemented for fifth year's undergraduate students. They learn gynaecological and urological skills in healthy volunteers. Technical, communicative and attitude aspects are taken into account.


METHODS
Description of the implementation of the project. Assessment of the project by questionnaires, written reflections and round table conferences.


RESULTS
The results provide detailed information about the student's perceptions of each component of the program as well as the perceptions of the IEA's and the teachers.


CONCLUSIONS
The multilevel evaluation of the program supports the surplus value of working with IEA's in medical education. The eye-catcher in this program is the integration of clinical skills with communicative skills and attention for students' attitude.


CONCLUSIONS
Working with IEA's for intimate examinations represents a benefit in medical education by lowering the student's threshold to perform the intimate physical examination on both men and women during their fulltime clerkships.
Hendrickx
Kristin
K
Skillslaboratory, University Hospital of Antwerp & University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium. kristin.hendrickx@telenet.be
De Winter
Benedicte Y
BY
Wyndaele
Jean-Jacques
JJ
Tjalma
Wiebren A A
WA
Debaene
Luc
L
Selleslags
Bert
B
Mast
Frieda
F
Buytaert
Philippe
P
Bossaert
Leo
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001530:Belgium; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003142:Communication; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016544:Patient Simulation; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration; D014572:Urology / Q000193:education*; D014838:Volunteers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology