Teaching the pelvic organ prolapse quantitation system.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the ease with which the new Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantitation system could be learned by residents and medical students. Standardized multiple-choice tests were administered to 51 obstetric and gynecology residents and medical students from 4 community-based and university-based programs. Parallel pretests and posttests were administered in conjunction with a 17-minute video demonstration of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantitation system and with the addition of a visual memory aid. The posttest was repeated 3 months after the video presentation. The use of a 17-minute video significantly enhanced participants' ability to interpret examination findings when expressed in the terminology of the system (mean improvement in scores 33%, P <.0001). Posttest scores were similar regardless of the type of program or exposure to urogynecology faculty. These scores were maintained at the 3-month retesting. The Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantitation system can be effectively taught by means of a public-domain video presentation.