Professional patient-instructors in the teaching of the pelvic examination

A class of 100 second-year medical students was randomly divided into two groups for instruction in the techniques of the gynecologic examination. Each group received a lecture and a demonstration film. The control group then had practical instruction on office or clinic patients. The study group was instructed by specially trained clinical teaching associates who acted both as professional patients and as teachers. After practice in clinics and offices, both groups received a common evaluation by gynecologists and teaching associates. Students who were instructed by clinical teaching associates performed better on subsequent pelvic examinations and demonstrated superior communications skills compared with the control group.