Outcomes of Performance Based Assessments With Varied Sexual History Communication Curricula

Abstract

Local Mentor: Colleen K. Stockdale, MD, MS APGO Advisor: Hope Ricciotti, MD OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effect of differing sexual history communication curricula as assessed by a standardized performance examination administered at the end of the Obstetrics and Gynecology clerkship. Differences in specific types of communication skills were considered based on varied training in sexual history-taking as experienced by medical students. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study examined “naturally occurring” comparison groups of medical students resulting from curricular changes in sexual history communication training over time. The curricular changes were hypothesized to positively affect practice based assessment (PBA) scores. Other variables considered were medical student sex and year. Outcome measures included items regarding clinical history, physical exam, communication skills and final diagnosis related to sexual history communication curriculum experienced. Group means and paired t-tests were performed for individual variables as well as several composite variables. RESULTS: Nine hundred and nine (n = 909) PBA scores were analyzed. Post-hoc power analysis defined minimum group size to be 45, which was exceeded. There was no relationship, positive or negative, between sexual history communication curricula with any outcome measure. Females performed significantly better on the PBA overall (P<.0001) and on several individual communication measures on the PBA checklist (range P 0.0003–0.02). Students who received “double” sexual history communication training compared to those who received “single” or no training showed no difference on any outcome measure (P 0.06). CONCLUSION: There appears to be minimal correlation of differing sexual history communication curricula with individual or composite communication skill scores as evaluated with a standardized performance examination administered at the end of the Obstetrics and Gynecology clerkship.