How good are newly qualified doctors at digital rectal examination?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Clinical Skills Assessment
• Gastroenterology Training

Background:

• Digital rectal examination (DRE) is a fundamental diagnostic skill for medical professionals.
• Existing literature suggests a deficit in DRE proficiency among junior doctors.
• Ensuring competence in DRE is vital for accurate patient assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the DRE abilities of Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctors.
• To identify the extent of DRE experience in newly qualified physicians.
• To assess confidence levels in performing DRE compared to other examinations.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based survey was administered to FY1 doctors from two UK universities.
• Data collection occurred within the initial four weeks of their postgraduate training.
• Statistical analysis, including ANOVA, was used to compare confidence levels.

Main Results:

• A high response rate (75%) was achieved, with 90 FY1 doctors completing the survey.
• The majority of FY1 doctors (76%) had performed fewer than 10 DREs before qualification.
• Doctors reported lowest confidence in DRE and vaginal examinations compared to hernia and testicular exams.

Conclusions:

• Digital rectal examination is often performed by inexperienced doctors with minimal senior oversight.
• There is a clear need for improved DRE training and supervision for junior doctors.
• Training should be integrated both pre-qualification and during early career stages.