Sensitive Examination Technique: Biomedical Multimedia Unit : The University of Melbourne

Sensitive Examination Technique

This program assists students to develop the clinical and communication skills necessary to explain and perform cervical screening (Pap tests) in a way that enhances, rather than inhibits the doctor-patient relationship. Currently, students have few opportunities to observe or perform Pap tests and current literature documents negative screening experiences by women as a major barrier to participation in the cervical screening program.

The program incorporates international data and a multicultural approach in order to facilitate its widespread use. In particular, this program examines: anatomy, pathology, cytology, principles of screening, clinical procedures, communication skills, barriers to screening, sensitivity issues and doctor-patient issues in a simulated clinical situation from the patient's perspective.

The program provides students with the opportunity to develop skills required to interpret clinical findings by presenting an interactive simulated consultation, a variety of case studies and a library of media objects (eg. photographs, graphics, text, sound, movies and animation). A valuable feature of the program is that students are asked to think of issues from the woman's perspective in the simulated consultation.

Curriculum Usage

Sensitive Examination Technique is currently used in semester 10 of the medical curriculum.

Project Screen Grabs

Click on the thumbnail to view a larger image.

		The 'home page' of the CD-ROM, different visual elements, themes and characters from the program have been collated to create a friendly, introductory start to the package.

		Interactive elements have been added to screens for a more dynamic learning experience. For example, here in an introduction screen we have rollovers for different areas from around the world. Rolling over the visual image will call on a 'pop-up' that in this particular screen shows the figure of cancer incidence and mortality rates.

		The program is broken up into four different areas; "introduction", "context", "preparation" and the "examination". Each section is summarised in a rollover.

		Virtual environments have been used throughout the program to create a realistic portrayal of the examination experience. Rollovers have been used to introduce information and issues.

		This is a screen shot of 'Medi-Pad' . This "virtual" program was created to simulate a computer within the clinical setting that held the patient's medical records and personal details.

Credits

Developed by the Biomedical Multimedia Unit in association with the Department of General Practice, The University of Melbourne, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Queensland and the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, The University of Auckland.

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Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Biomedical Multimedia Unit

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