Open AccessCompetency‐based Learning
Author(s) -
Watkins Raquel S.,
Moran William P.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of general internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.746
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 1525-1497
pISSN - 0884-8734
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2004.30150.x
Subject(s) - medicine , intervention (counseling) , randomized controlled trial , pap smears , family medicine , presentation (obstetrics) , nursing , surgery , cervical cancer , cancer
Little is known about assessing or improving competency in Papanicolau (Pap) smear sampling among internal medicine residents. We hypothesized that a 3‐part targeted resident physician educational program (educational presentation by a knowledgeable instructor, skills workshop, and peer comparison feedback) would be effective in increasing the quality of Pap smears obtained by internal medicine residents. We conducted a randomized, pre‐post comparison study over a 16‐month period to assess the effect of our educational intervention. We found no difference in baseline adequacy rates. Residents who received the intervention were twice as likely to obtain an adequate Pap smear. Our results suggest that a brief multifaceted intervention designed to improve the frequency with which internal medicine residents obtain endocervical cells while performing Pap smears is effective.