Adolescent pelvic examination. An effective practical approach

The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that pediatric health care be extended through the adolescent years. Thus, there is a need to refamiliarize the physician with the pelvic examination. Formerly, workshops used simulated plastic models ("Ginny") to accomplish this goal. Such workshops have been conducted at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics for several years. At the 1987 meeting in New Orleans, La, two workshops involving live models (gynecologic teaching assistants) were planned and implemented with great success. Following a didactic segment, each participant was given an opportunity to perform the pelvic examination with immediate feedback from the gynecologic teaching assistant as to the completeness and appropriateness of the pelvic examination. The immediate response of the attendees was overwhelmingly positive. A questionnaire was sent to the enrollees 8 months after the meeting to determine whether this experience had affected their attitude toward and approach to the pelvic examination. Eighty-three percent of questionnaires were returned with an affirmative response. This positive response suggested that such workshops be continued in an effort to reach as many pediatricians as possible.