Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/9802
Title: Experience and attitudes of final-year medical students to digital rectal examination.
Austin Authors: Lawrentschuk, Nathan;Bolton, Damien M 
Affiliation: Department of Surgery and Urology, University of Melbourne, Austin Hospital, Studley Rd, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
Issue Date: 20-Sep-2004
Publication information: Medical Journal of Australia; 181(6): 323-5
Abstract: To assess the attitudes of final-year medical students to digital rectal examination (DRE) and their experience of performing DRE during clinical training.Questionnaire-based survey.All students in the final year of medical school at the University of Melbourne in 2003.Agreement with statements about attitude to DRE; number of DREs performed and abnormalities palpated; and ratings of frequency of supervision and perceived barriers to performing DRE.222 of 256 students (87%) responded. Almost all (97%) believed that DRE is an essential requirement for a medical practitioner, and 94% that they should have the skill before graduating, while 92% said they had been taught how to perform it. The median number of DREs performed was two, with 17% of students performing none. Sixty-three per cent had palpated a prostate, 24% a prostate cancer, 19% a rectal tumour, and 11% faecal constipation. Half the students (52%) felt they could give a reasonable or confident opinion based on their DRE findings. The most often cited reason for not performing DREs was the lack of a doctor to act as a supervisor.A concerted effort is needed from academics, supervising doctors and students to improve medical students' proficiency in performing DRE and confidence about their findings.
Gov't Doc #: 15377244
URI: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/9802
Journal: Medical Journal of Australia
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15377244
Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Adult
Attitude of Health Personnel
Australia
Clinical Competence
Data Collection
Education, Medical, Undergraduate.standards.trends
Female
Humans
Male
Physical Examination.standards
Questionnaires
Rectum
Students, Medical
Appears in Collections:Journal articles

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