Teaching pelvic examination to second-year medical students using programmed patients.

A great deal of interest has been expressed in the use of the "programmed" patient during the past several years. This pilot study used programmed patients to teach medical students the techniques of pelvic examination. From the study, it was concluded that the experience with the programmed patient adds significantly to an undergraduate learning program, that this technique is well accepted by students and faculty, and that it adds realism to the study of obstetrics and gynecology early in a medical school curriculum.