DOI: 10.12688/mep.21866.1 ISSN: 2312-7996

Re-examining the Medical Student Body 25 years later at one US medical school: do medical students feel differently about practicing peer physical examinations with classmates?

David V Power, Emily Zhi, Derek Hersch, Kristen Klemenhagen
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Introduction Medical student attitudes to practicing physical exam skills with classmates - here known as “peer physical examinations” (PPE) - at one large, midwestern, public US school were re-examined by survey in 2024 and compared to previously published results from the same school 25 years earlier. Methods In 2024, 176 second-year medical students were invited to complete a slightly modified version of an original survey, previously administered in 1999, which included a new question based on categories from the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS). Free response comments were welcomed and qualitatively analyzed. Results The percentage of students who agreed or strongly agreed that PPE was appropriate decreased from 98% (n = 122) in 1999 to 68% (n = 73) in 2024. In 1999, no student considered PPE unprofessional, while in 2024, 17% (n = 18) did. In 1999, 97% (n = 120) considered PPE to be valuable, which decreased to 76% (n = 81) in 2024. Two percent (n = 2) of students in 1999 were uncomfortable with PPE, which increased to 11% (n = 12) in 2024. All of these differences were statistically significant at p < 0.001 with a large effect size. The top five categories influencing comfort with PPE were gender, physical appearance, weight, religion, and sexual orientation. Discussion Medical student attitudes towards PPE at this school have changed in 25 years. While the majority of students still consider PPE to be appropriate, professional, and valuable, a sizable minority now considers them inappropriate, unprofessional, and not valuable. Conclusion Students who support PPE want more training in setting boundaries and sharing their preferences with classmates before they start PPE.

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