Alice B. Fox, PA, DrPH, Beth Israel Medical Center, 317 E. 17th St., Peter Krueger Clinic, New York, NY 10003, 212-420-2116, afox@bethisraelny.org and Jeanne Carey, MD, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, Milton and Carroll Petrie Division, First Avenue at 16th Street, New York, NY 10003.

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the experiences of HIV-infected women attending gynecology (GYN) appointments, who are asked to permit a medical resident to be present during the appointment and to undergo an additional pelvic examination by the resident. The patients attend an HIV specialty clinic that is affiliated with a large teaching hospital in New York City and serves over 350 women of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds; the majority are insured through Medicaid. This clinic is also the site for training Internal Medicine residents, who are required to gain clinical experience in office-based GYN. If a woman refuses to have the resident present or to undergo an examination by the resident, the reasons for her refusal are recorded in her own words. If a woman agrees to include the resident in her visit, following her appointment,she is asked questions regarding her experience. Data including resident’s gender, patient’s age, and reason for GYN visit are collected. For many of these women, the perceived stigma of being HIV-infected and the frequent history of personal violence make GYN examinations emotionally difficult. Our focus on the patients' perspectives may provide valuable insights in determining how best to include women in the educational process and to strengthen their sense of agency. A secondary objective is to provide medical residents with a model of care that emphasizes interpersonal as well as technical skills of office-based GYN. Preliminary results will be presented and discussed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

• Identify factors, from a patient's point of view, which detract from or enhance the GYN examination experience
• Integrate patient-identified concerns in the GYN setting into existing residency training programs
• Evaluate educational models for training medical professionals in women's health that emphasize communication and interpersonal skills-building

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.