Objective: To compare the skills in pelvic examination technique between students who have had training with professional patients and a control group of students trained using clinical patients.
Design: Prospective controlled study.
Setting: University hospital.
Population: Students attending three consecutive courses in obstetrics and gynecology at Karolinska University Hospital.
Methods: A study group of 53 students received training in pelvic examination with professional patients and was compared with a control group of 34 students who were trained using clinical patients.
Main outcome measures: The students' skills in pelvic examination technique were examined by teachers in a practical test. Students' skills were also evaluated by the students themselves and by the patients who participated in the examination.
Results: Students who had training with professional patients were more skilled in performing a pelvic examination and better prepared to examine their own patients than students trained using clinical patients.
Conclusions: Training with professional patients is more effective in teaching pelvic examination technique than training with clinical patients. We recommend that the use of professional patients is considered in the training of medical students.