“Over my dead body?”: the influence of demographics on students' willingness to participate in peer physical examination

Abstract

This study aims to explore quantitatively and qualitatively students' attitudes towards peer physical examination (PPE) and the influence of demographics on students' willingness to participate in PPE. A total of 296 first-year medical students from two consecutive cohorts at the Peninsula Medical School, UK completed the EFS questionnaire. Quantitative data from the questionnaire were analysed using univariate (i.e. Mann–Whitney and chi-squared tests) and multivariate statistics (i.e. stepwise multiple regression) and qualitative data were analysed using theme analysis. At least 92% of Peninsula Medical School students were willing to examine all 11 body parts (except breast and inguinal regions) of peers of same and opposite gender. Qualitative data support this by highlighting students' positive attitudes towards PPE. PPE was more acceptable within rather than across gender and students generally felt more comfortable examining their peers than being examined by peers. Qualitative data outline the range of student concerns with PPE. Significant relationships existed between students' attitudes towards PPE and various variables: gender, age and religious faith. The findings demonstrate that students may show a greater willingness to participate in PPE than previously thought. Further research is required to explore more fully the barriers to PPE.

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Notes on contributors

CHARLOTTE REES is Senior Lecturer in Medical Education at the Peninsula Medical School. She participated in developing the original idea for the study, analysed the quantitative data and wrote the majority of the manuscript.

TRACEY COLLETT is a Research Fellow at the Peninsula Medical School. She analysed the qualitative data and contributed to writing the manuscript.

PAUL BRADLEY is Professor and Director of Clinical Skills at Peninsula Medical School. He participated in developing the original idea for the study, and edited the manuscript.

JOHN MCLACHLAN is Professor of Medical Education at Peninsula Medical School. He participated in developing the original idea for the study and contributed to the manuscript.

¹ ‘Younger students' are those defined as younger than 30 years and ‘older students' are those defined as 30 years or older. Exact ages have not been provided to ensure anonymity.