International Journal of Healthcare Simulation

Background:

Gynaecologic Teaching Associate (GTA) and Male Urogenital Teaching Associate (MUTA) methodology have been utilized for decades in effective breast, pelvic and urogenital examination clinical skill instruction. This methodology is recognized as the gold standard of instruction when educating learners on the sensitive, invasive clinical skills techniques associated with a genital examination. While research shows it is the most effective way to learn these procedures, outside of the USA and Canada, there are few GTA/MUTA programmes at medical learning institutions.

Aims:

This methodology aims to provide hands-on, standardized instruction in an anxiety-free environment where learners safely practice the clinical skills techniques of breast, pelvic and urogenital examinations and have the unique experience of learning these techniques from the patient’s perspective.

Method:

The GTA/MUTA is both instructor and live simulated patient, using their own bodies as teaching tools, guiding learners through examination techniques and providing instant feedback. With this unique opportunity for skills acquisition, learners receive step-by-step instruction on an actual person in a quality-controlled environment. In addition to correct palpation techniques, this patient-centred form of instruction addresses the emotional reaction patients may have to these examinations. GTA/MUTA instruction also includes patient education and communication and relaxation techniques. The GTA/MUTA patient empowerment methodology is designed to provide an anxiety-free atmosphere for the learner so that the sensitive nature of the genital examination and the embarrassment often accompanying the examination do not become an obstacle to acquiring safe, effective clinical technique.

Results:

Decades of research prove that this method lowers learner anxiety and provides exceptional outcomes for learners in a multiplicity of learning criteria, including higher overall scores; superior communication skills; better ability to identify pathology; ‘better interpersonal skills than physician trained with lasting effects that can be demonstrated after clinical exposure’ ^[1]; ability to conduct safe, genital examination techniques on patients after exposure to a GTA/MUTA instructor ^[2].

Implications for practice:

The methodology has far-reaching implications. The specialized skills of these individuals mean that the teaching method can be brought outside of the well-patient experience; sexual assault providers can practice the trauma examination on live simulated patients; remediation can be provided to practitioners who must relearn techniques to maintain licensure; learners are more empathetic to their patients and more inclined to include their patients in the examination process thus improving patient care. This methodology can be utilized in any setting where invasive examination procedures, patient education and communication must be mastered.