Junior doctor training in breast and axillary examination: a comparative study

To date, there has been a lack of published data concerning the training of breast and axillary examination, yet this remains an essential part of the triple assessment of breast lumps. In this study, we aimed to determine th e competence of junior doctors in examining the breast and axilla, and whet her this skill improved with time. We compared the findings of a specialist registrar and senior house officer with these of a consultant in 15 consec utive one-stop breast clinics in a district general hospital. The results s uggested that although specialist registrars become proficient after this p eriod, senior house officers do not progress at the same rate. This may hav e important implications for training and the organization of breast clinic s. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.