Clinical skills instruction: Evaluation of a female gynecologic examination curriculum

The purpose of this study was to determine if application of the current curriculum, grounded in educational theory, in the Female Gynecological Examination at KSOM produces learners that are both competent and confident in their ability to perform the female pelvic examination.;During the 2004-2006 academic year, medical students matriculating through the second and third years of medical training experienced a specific curriculum in Female Gynecologic Examination. As part of this curriculum students were evaluated for competency and confidence in the FGE. Competency was measure as part of an Objective Skills Clinical Examination tat evaluated the student's ability to perform the various steps of the examination in sequence. Confidence was measure by a self-report of confidence on the same steps to the examination. This self-assessment occurred at the close of the academic year, and included the collection of information on several variables hypothesized to possibly impact the results of confidence and competence.;Analysis demonstrated that the curriculum in FGE was effective in producing learners that were both competent and confident. Further analysis revealed that students demonstrated more difficulty in mastering the more complex steps to the examination. Confidence in these more complex steps to the examination also was more difficult to develop. Of most importance was the demonstration that this curriculum produced learners who were competent by their first clinical encounter. Thus, patients seeking actual medical care were provided with competent health intervention even when the student was a novice in patient care.