Experience and attitude of interns to pelvic and sensitive area examinations during their undergraduate medical course

To explore the experience of interns in sensitive area examination during their undergraduate medical course and identify factors interfering with such examinations. A cross sectional study was carried out from May to June 2010. Interns [n=315] at King Saud University College of Medicine were invited via email to complete a web-based questionnaire developed using surveymonkey.com. Out of 315 interns, 211 completed the questionnaire; 60% males and 40% females. The mean percentage of interns who never performed any of these examinations was 28.9% for digital rectal examination, 17.5% for breast, 43.1% for female pelvic examination, 13.3% for inguinal [hernia], and 34.6% for male external genitalia. Compared to females, male students conducted more rectal examinations [87 versus 63, p<0.005], and male external genitalia examinations [112 versus 26, p<0.001]. On the other hand, compared to male students, females conducted more pelvic examination [68 versus 52, p=0.03] and breast examinations [92 versus 82, p=0.27]. The most common reasons for not performing sensitive area examinations included patient's refusal [33.1%], and examining patients of opposite gender [27.6%]. Confidence in performance of these examinations was correlated to increased frequency of the examination. This study highlights that most common factors interfering with the students' conducting sensitive area examinations are patient's refusal and examining patients of the opposite sex. There is a strong correlation between increased frequency of conducting an examination and student's confidence in performance.

Effects of inhaled fluticasone on intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness in asthmatic children without a family history of glaucoma

The aim of this study is to report the effects of fluticasone-inhaled corticosteroid on intraocular pressure [IOP] and central corneal thickness [CCT] of asthmatic children without a family history of glaucoma. In this prospective study, 93 children were divided into two groups: 69 asthmatic children with no family history of glaucoma who were taking inhaled fluticasone propionate 250 microg daily for at least 6 months [Group 1] and 24 age-matched control subjects without asthma [Group 2]. Three measurements each, of IOP and CCT, were performed with a hand-held noncontact tonometer and a noncontact specular microscope, respectively, over a 12-week period. The order of IOP and CCT measured were randomized at each visit. Between-group comparison and the relationship between CCT and IOP measurements were investigated. P < 0.05 was statistically significant. The mean age was 8 +/- 2.4 years [range, 5-15 years] and 9 +/- 2.9 years [range, 5-15 years] for Groups 1 and 2, respectively [P = 0.1337]. The mean IOP was 14 +/- 3.3 mmHg [range, 10-24 mmHg] and 14 +/- 2.9 mmHg [range, 11-22 mmHg] for Groups 1 and 2, respectively [P = 0.3626]. The mean CCT was 531 +/- 30.1 microm [range, 467-601 microm] and 519 +/- 47.0 microm [range, 415589 microm] for Groups 1 and 2, respectively [P = 0.1625]. There was a weak but statistically significant correlation between IOP and CCT in Group 1 [Pearson's R = 0.3580, P = 0.0025].: Inhaled fluticasone at the regular dose used in this study over a short period [6-24 months] was not associated with a significant effect on CCT and IOP measured with noncontact devices in asthmatic children between 5 and 15 years, without a family history of glaucoma. A weak correlation between IOP and CCT values in asthmatic children did exist.