A videotape series for teaching physicians to evaluate sexually abused children

A free videotape subscription series was utilized to increase the knowledge of general physicians in clinical practice about the medical evaluation of sexually abused children. Of the 65 physicians who requested the first tape, 39 (60%) completed it. Fourteen of the 39 physicians who completed the first tape (36%) completed the 5-tape series. Completion data suggested that series completion was unrelated to prior knowledge, years since training or number of sexual abuse examinations performed in the previous year. Evaluative comments suggested that quality of the tapes was not a factor in completion rate. On tests of immediate retention, the average posttest percent correct was significantly higher than on the pretest. In a 3-year follow-up of the 14 physicians who completed the series, 10 reported that they were still performing sexual abuse examinations.