Internists training medical residents in pelvic examination: impact of an educational program.

BACKGROUND

Pelvic examination is an important component of the primary care of women by internists, but training beyond medical school is rare.

DESCRIPTION

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.

EVALUATION

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.