Women teaching women's health: Issues in the establishment of a clinical Teaching Associate program for the well woman check

Abstract

The impact of screening programs for cervical cancer would be increased with the greater participation of currently underscreened women. Training for medical students and doctors in the fine technical and communication skills required in breast and gynaecological examinations would improve participation by increasing the confidence and skill of doctors in raising the issue of screening, thereby making the examination a more positive experience for women. Gynaecology Teaching Associate (GTA) programs, using specially trained standardized patients, have been used in over 90% of American and Canadian medical schools for more than ten years to provide such training. Australia has been slow to ad..