An introductory workshop on paediatric examination skills.

摘要

Context and setting Our medical students acquire their paediatric clinical skills in attachments during Years 5 and 6 of study. In Year 3 they attend a clinical skills course for the assessment of adults and in Years 4 and 5 they rotate through clinical attachments in adult medicine, so that, on starting their paediatric attachment, they are familiar with taking histories and examining adults. However, these skills differ considerably from those needed in paediatrics. Why the idea was necessary Because of their lack of familiarity with children, students are often anxious about approaching caregivers and children at the start of the paediatric rotation. We wanted to reduce their anxiety and increase their confidence to make it easier for them to start acquiring the skills. What was done We designed a half-day workshop for the beginning of the paediatric rotation to introduce students to the skills needed to communicate with and perform physical examinations on children. It involved a brief introductionto the principles of paediatric examination, such as the importance of observation, using opportunities as they present, performing distressing parts of the examination last and communicating with children at an age-appropriate level. Students then rotated in groups of 6 through 5 stations, concerning: examination of the abdomen; the respiratory system; the cardiovascular system; examination of the acutely ill child, and child development.