Resident behaviors during observed pelvic examinations.

The pelvic exam is a procedure frequently complicated by difficult communication, sexual tension, and iatrogenic pain. Observations of family practice residents performing pelvic exams were done to identify ways in which they deal with these issues. Among the majority of residents, there was a failure to identify and deal with patients' discomfort. Several episodes of behavior felt to be dysfunctional to the doctor-patient relationship were observed. Implications of these findings for medical education are discussed.