Fear of causing harm: use of mannequin-based simulation to decrease student anxiety prior to interacting with female teaching associates

There is a paucity of research assessing the potential benefits of mannequin trainers when preparing students to interact with teaching associates.

The goal of this study was to better understand the effects of mannequin-based simulators on student comfort toward learning specific aspects of the clinical female pelvic exam.

First-year medical students (N = 344) were surveyed before and after a mannequin-based simulation curriculum to assess their comfort levels toward learning the female pelvic exam.

Causing harm was the top cause of student anxiety toward learning the pelvic exam. Although the mannequin-based simulation curriculum was effective in significantly increasing (p < .001) student comfort levels toward learning the pelvic exam, the majority of students progressed from being "very uncomfortable" with the exam to being "somewhat comfortable."

We suggest that mannequin-based simulators be used prior to students' learning experience with pelvic exam teaching associates.