Table 3.

Differences in Self-Confidence of Individual Physical Examination Skills

Physical examination skill	M3 vs:				PGY-1 vs:
	M4	PGY-1	PGY-2–4	Faculty Internists	M4	PGY-2–4	Faculty Internists
Measuring blood pressure	.31 (.04)	−.02 (1.00)	.30 (.04)	.51 (.001)	.33 (.05)	.33 (.04)	.53 (.001)
Measuring jugular venous pressure	.19 (.86)	.18 (.90)	.39 (.19)	1.19 (<.001)	.00 (1.00)	.20 (.84)	1.01 (<.001)
Interpreting a systolic murmur	.30 (.34)	.18 (.85)	.56 (.002)	.60 (.01)	.12 (.97)	.38 (.17)	.42 (.23)
Interpreting a diastolic murmur	−.01 (1.00)	−.33 (.45)	.13 (.95)	.60 (.03)	.32 (.48)	.45 (.10)	.93 (<.001)
Detecting a pleural effusion	.38 (.18)	.19 (.86)	.81 (<.001)	.91 (<.001)	.19 (.85)	.62 (.006)	.72 (.007)
Detecting clubbing	.46 (.05)	.37 (.28)	.47 (.03)	.66 (.006)	.09 (.99)	.10 (.98)	.30 (.63)
Detecting ascites	.31 (.28)	−.09 (.99)	.12 (.94)	−.03 (1.00)	.40 (.14)	.21 (.73)	.06 (1.00)
Detecting splenomegaly	.59 (.01)	−.14 (.95)	.31 (.32)	.70 (.004)	.73 (.001)	.46 (.09)	.85 (.001)
Determining vertical liver span	.14 (.95)	.12 (.98)	.51 (.04)	.83 (.001)	.03 (1.00)	.39 (.27)	.71 (.02)
Distinguishing between a mole and melanoma	.60 (.01)	.74 (.003)	.51 (.04)	.72 (.01)	−.15 (.96)	−.23 (.78)	−.03 (1.00)
Detecting a breast mass in a female patient	.80 (<.001)	.19 (.86)	.50 (.02)	1.00 (<.001)	.61 (.01)	.31 (.45)	.81 (.001)
Detecting a thyroid nodule	.57 (.009)	.02 (1.00)	.37 (.19)	.92 (<.001)	.55 (.03)	.35 (.34)	.90 (<.001)
Nondilated fundoscopic examination using an ophthalmoscope to assess retinal vasculature	.51 (.14)	−.03 (1.00)	−.09 (.99)	.87 (.006)	.53 (.16)	−.06 (1.00)	.89 (.008)
Detecting a positive straight-leg raise sign	.73 (<.001)	−.16 (.93)	.29 (.47)	.77 (.003)	.89 (<.001)	.45 (.13)	.93 (<.001)

p-values in parentheses, significant p-values boldfaced