Residents exposure to patientes and their participation in the examination is essential for the learning of colorectal surgery specialty. Patients may be reluctant to have residents present in outpatient colorectal clinics. This study evalueted patients' attitudes towards resident' s involvement in an outpatient colorectal clinic of a private institution. METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients answered voluntarily and anonymously a questionnaire after the physical examination with the involmement of residents. The examination consisted of anal inspection, palpation, anoscopy, rigid proctosigmoidoscopy and abdominal examination. Age, gender, race, marital, educational and social status were evaluated, as well as the patients' attitudes towards resident's involvement in the outpatient setting. The reasons for acceptance or refusal of resident' involvement werw also evaluated. For statistical analysis the [chi]² os Fisher test and t Student test were used. RESULTS: The acceptance rate of residents during the rectal examination was 87 per cent and the refusal rate was 1 per cent. Eleven per cent reported tha resident's involvement was indifferent for them and 1 patient did not answer this question. There was no significant difference among the studied variables regarding resident's involvement, except for the marital status, since married patients accepted the resident better than single patients. The main reason for acceptance was cooperatin for medical training, while for refusal was loss of privacy. CONCLUSION: Patients accept resident's involvement during rectal examination in outpatient setting. Knowledge of the reasons for their acceptance and refusal by patients may emphasize positive attiyudes in order to improve this acceptance and minimize the refusal.
resident; rectal exam; medical training
