Use of Standardized Patients for Teaching and Evaluating the Genitourinary Examination Skills of Internal Medicine Residents

Abstract

Background: Standardized patients are used frequently for the evaluation and teaching of clinical skills in medical school. They are less commonly used in residency programs, particularly for the demonstration, teaching and evaluation of trainees' skills in the male and female genitourinary (GU) examinations. Few data exist regarding the potential benefit of such methods in postgraduate medical education. Purposes: This study was undertaken to determine the impact of training using standardized patients (Genital Teaching Associates or GTAs) on performance of the GU examination and to survey residents prior training in these examinations during medical school. Methods: Thirty-four internal medicine residents participated in a male and female GTA exercise. Pre- and postexercise questionnaires were completed assessing internal medicine residents' self-perceived clinical skill in the GU examination and training in these examinations during medical school. Results: Residents assessed their own skills in performance of the GU examination to be significantly higher after the training exercise. Seventy-one percent had received training in the female genital examination using live models, and 97% had been directly observed in the performance of this examination during medical school. In contrast, only 32% had received formal training in the male GU examination and 65% had been observed while performing this examination during medical school. Conclusion: Internal medicine residents may benefit significantly from training in the GU examination well into postgraduate training. Many residents have not received adequate training in the male GU examination in medical school.