Prior Osteopathic Palpatory Training and the Effectiveness of Clinical Breast Exams

Abstract

Bah, Elizabeth L., Prior Osteopathic Palpatory Training and the Effectiveness of Clinical Breast Exams. Master of Science in Clinical Research and Education, May 2007, 57 pp, 9 tables, 10 illustrations, 28 bibliography titles. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether there is an association between osteopathic palpatory training and increased effectiveness of clinical breast exams. Incoming first year medical students, completed second year medical students, and physician assistant students participated in this study. These students palpated six silicone breast models with lumps of varying sizes, depths and hardness. Effectiveness was measured by mean sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value. The results of this study showed that there was no significant difference in effectiveness between the three student groups. The outcome of this project did not show an association between osteopathic palpatory training and increased effectiveness of clinical breast exams.