title: A prospective study into the benefits of simulation training in teaching obstetric vaginal examination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the benefits of incorporating simulations in obstetric vaginal-examination training.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-center, randomized, prospective study was conducted in a French University Hospital. Medical students without obstetric experience were assigned, by simple random sampling, to perform either 10 or 30 vaginal-examination training procedures using a simulator. A control group of students that had not performed any simulator training procedures was also enrolled. Medical students performed six vaginal examinations on patients who were in labor. The students reported the findings of the examinations in terms of five items (cervical length, position, consistency, dilation, and fetal presentation). The students' findings were then compared with those of experienced midwives (whose answers were considered to be the gold standard) who examined the same patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 66 students were included in the analyses. Students who had performed 10 simulated procedures demonstrated significantly greater accuracy in vaginal examination assessments in comparison with the control group (P<0.001). No significant difference was observed between the results for students that had performed 10 or 30 simulated procedures (P=0.44).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simulation training assisted novice students in improving their vaginal-examination skills before performing such procedures on real patients. Vaginal-examination simulations should be included in the training curriculum for students who will examine pregnant patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Reproduction and Fetal medicine, University Hospital Center of Nice, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France. Electronic address: tatianarias85@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Nice Pediatric Hospital, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Nice Pediatric Hospital, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France; Medical Simulation Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Breaud
authors.affiliation: Medical Simulation Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France; Department of Emergency Medicine, St Roch Hospital, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Jean Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Reproduction and Fetal medicine, University Hospital Center of Nice, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bongain
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Reproduction and Fetal medicine, University Hospital Center of Nice, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France; Medical Simulation Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Delotte
mesh_terms: D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000193:education*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D058869:Gynecological Examination / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000066908:Simulation Training / Q000592:standards*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Delivery; Education; Obstetrics; Simulation; Vaginal examination