title: Medical students in gynaecology clinics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate factors that influence a patient's acceptance of a medical student's involvement in their consultation when attending a public hospital gynaecology clinic. Factors that influence a patient's acceptance of a medical student's involvement in a consultation
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational study of women attending gynaecology clinics at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) from January to December 2011. The questionnaire sought demographic information and asked women about their knowledge of medical student attendance at the clinics, if they would allow a student to be present during their consultation and whether they would allow a student to examine them. It also sought reasons for their responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 460 questionnaires distributed, 97 per cent (446) were completed. Overall, 85.6 per cent (382) of patients expressed an acceptance of medical students being present in their consultation, and 63.9 per cent (285) said they would allow students to examine them. Factors significantly associated with an increased acceptance of examination by medical students included being aware that a student may be present (p=0.003), and being married or in a committed relationship (p=0.023). Age and education level were not significantly associated with acceptance of being examined by a student, and ethnicity was too diverse to assess any possible bias. All groups maintained a preference for female students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has found that being aware that medical students may be present in gynaecology clinics may increase patient acceptance of being examined by a student. This demonstrates a role for information to be distributed to patients prior to their appointment to facilitate medical training.
authors.affiliation: Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D058869:Gynecological Examination / Q000523:psychology*; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education*; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult