Pediatric clinical examination: acquired habilities during the course of Social Preventive Pediatrics, FAMEB-UFBa

Abstract

This study analyzes the main difficulties and the acquired skilles of the medical students  in the ambulatorial practice of Social Preventive Pediatrics Discipline, from the College of Medicine of Bahia - Federal University of Bahia - in their first contact with the pediatric clinic.  The students were inquired about their main difficulties at the begining and at the end of the discipline, through a questionnaire, with the objective of identifying the acquired skills and the most hardly surpassed difficulties. This practical activity is characterized by the ambulatorial primary attendance, in which the pediatric consultation is performed,  emphasizing a detailed interview and a complete physical examination, besides the peculiarities of each pediatric age group. As to the interview, the students  demonstrated to be less secure on  the analysis of  growth and  neuropsychomotor development; whereas on  physical examination, a reduced self-confidence has been noted on abdominal and genital examination. A clear acquisition of skills was noted in the performance of the interview as well as of the physical examination, although in  some  variables  this evolution was more evident.