Improving Gynecological Examination Skills with the Use of a Model

Improving Gynecological Examination Skills in Midwifery Students: a Training Study Using Models

Vaginal, abdominal, and breast examinations are among the essential gynecological examination skills for midwifery students and are crucial steps that need to be learned. However, due to the privacy of genital areas, there are some debates regarding the teaching of these skills. Low-fidelity mannequins and models are particularly effective and cost-efficient in acquiring basic psychomotor skills. Thus, midwifery students can gain clinical experience, make mistakes in a safe environment, and enhance their skills. The sample of this study consists of 64 midwifery students (experimental=32, control=32) using a pre-test, post-test design with an observational randomized controlled trial. Data collection instruments include a Personal Information Form (PIF), Learner's Guide (LG), Self-Confidence Scale (SCS), and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale (SSSCLS. In the experimental group, after providing theoretical knowledge, students will receive practical training on a gynecological examination model, including bimanual examination, vaginal examination with a speculum, pap smear for cervical screening, and pelvic palpation. Each student will then perform the examination individually, with approximately 15 minutes allocated per student. Two weeks later, the same students will be asked to perform all examination steps again. During the examinations, the researcher will mark complete and incomplete procedures in the learner's guide, and any deficiencies will be explained to the students for completion. The CS and SSSLS will be administered for the post-test. In the control group, after theoretical knowledge is provided, students will be shown visual and video demonstrations of the steps of a gynecological examination. The PIF and SCS will be administered for the pre-test, and two weeks later, students will be asked to perform the examination steps in a laboratory setting, followed by the post-test.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Gynecologic Disease; Training Group, Sensitivity; Gynecologic Nursing
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Model group

Detailed Description

Gynecological examination is an important step for women's health. Early diagnosis, treatment, intervention, and follow-up are the foundation of a healthy life. Midwives play an important role in maintaining women's health, especially in conducting detailed gynecological and obstetric evaluations. They should receive quality theoretical education and improve their practices. Practical training is important in learning, especially in the health field where models and simulation applications play a significant role in clinical practices. Therefore, clinical examination skills are sometimes taught to students using different materials, making it easier for students to learn medical knowledge and reducing the time spent on education. The aim of this planned study is to improve midwifery students' gynecological examination skills with model support.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 68
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Karabuk, Turkey, 78050
    • Ayşe Çuvadar
  • Karabük, Turkey, 78050
    • Karabuk University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being a 3rd or 4th year midwifery student at Karabük University Faculty of Health Sciences

  • Being between the ages of 18-25
  • Voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study
  • Being a citizen of the Republic of Turkey

Exclusion Criteria:

• Leave whenever you want without working.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention (Model) group; Process: Theoretical knowledge will be given to students, and then different types of gynecological examinations will be explained practically on a model in the laboratory environment.; Process: The learner guide will be filled out.; Process: After 15 days, students will be taken back to the laboratory environment to fill out the learner guide again. In addition, Self-Confidence Scale (SCS) and Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale (SSSLS) will be filled out for the last exam.	Other: Model group; Process: Theoretical knowledge will be given to students, and then different types of gynecological examinations will be explained practically on a model in the laboratory environment.; Process: The learner guide will be filled out.; Process: After 15 days, students will be taken back to the laboratory environment to fill out the learner guide again. In addition, SCS and SSSLS will be filled out for the last exam.
No Intervention: Control group; Procedure: The stages of gynecological examination evaluation for students, its purpose, the process of preparing the patient and evaluating them will be provided with theoretical knowledge.; Procedure: Pre-tests will be administered.; Procedure: Two weeks later, Self-Confidence Scale (SCS); Learner's Guide (LG) and (Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale) SSSCLS will be filled out for the final test.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Improving gynecological examination skills with the use of a model	Gynecologic Disease	Groups of 5 people receive 15 minutes of laboratory training and 15 days later, practice in the laboratory.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Karabuk University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 25, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): February 3, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 22, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 31, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): August 2, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 3, 2025
• Last Verified: February 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Midwife, student, gynecological examination, model
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Genital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Genital Diseases, Female
• Other Study ID Numbers: E-77192459-050.99-338662

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No