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Improving clinical breast examination training in a medical school

A randomized controlled trial

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Abstract

To evaluate a new program for teaching clinical breast examination, a class of 156 second-year medical students were randomized into an experimental group (practice and feedback on silicone breast models and women volunteers) and a control group (lecture only). During a simulated practical clinical examination routinely conducted at the end of the second year, the experimental group students used more suggested palpation techniques during a patient examination (4.6 vs 2.0; p<0.0001) and found more simulated lumps in a silicone model (4.7 vs 4.4; p<0.05). Practice with immediate feedback is more effective than lecture alone in teaching clinical breast examination.

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Supported in part by a grant from the Zlinkoff Foundation to the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

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Pilgrim, C., Lannon, C., Harris, R.P. et al. Improving clinical breast examination training in a medical school. J Gen Intern Med 8, 685–688 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02598289

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