Upon completion of this placement, the Physician Associate student will be able to elicit an appropriate obstetric and gynaecologic medical history, perform appropriate physical examinations, obtain indicated lab studies, assess the results, formulate a proposed management plan, and implement appropriate therapy under supervision for common problems encountered in obstetrics and gynaecology.
It is important to remember that the primary purpose of this experience is to prepare Physician Associate students to deal professionally and confidentially with obstetric and gynaecological presentations they may encounter in a variety of healthcare settings. The focus is therefore on the diagnosis and/or management of common and important obstetric and gynaecological conditions.
View all Close all
The Physician Associate student will be able to obtain satisfactory obstetric, gynaecological and sexual histories from patients.
The student will be able to sensitively perform appropriate physical examinations, including thorough breast, abdominal, and pelvic exams.
The student will use laboratory and diagnostic studies appropriately to support or modify tentative diagnostic impression.
The student will be able to propose pharmacological therapy, demonstrating understanding of the indications, contraindications (especially as these relate to pregnancy), major side-effects/adverse reactions and correct dosing for medications commonly used in obstetric and gynaecological conditions.
The student will analyse information obtained from the history, physical examination, diagnostic tests, and procedures to formulate a problem list, develop a comprehensive, prioritised differential diagnosis list, and utilise all available clinical data to accurately recognise and diagnose common and emergency obstetric and gynaecological conditions. They will utilise this information to propose appropriate management plans for these conditions.
The student will be able to assess patient presentations in alignment with the GMC’s PA Registration Assessment (PARA) content map, and propose appropriate management plans. Within obstetrics and gynaecology, Physician Associate students are expected to be able to assess and manage the following presentations:
- Abnormal cervical smear results
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
- Amenorrhoea
- Bleeding antepartum
- Bleeding post-partum
- Complications of labour
- Gestational diabetes
- Hypertension in pregnancy
- Irregular periods
- Lump in vagina/vulva
- Menopausal problems
- Normal labour
- Normal pregnancy and antenatal care
- Pain in early pregnancy
- Painful or heavy periods (dysmenorrhoea/menorrhagia)
- Pelvic mass
- Pelvic pain
- Post-menopausal bleeding
- Seeking contraception
- Unwanted pregnancy
- Vulval itching
PA students should also demonstrate the ability to recognise and propose management of the following conditions:
- Bartholin’s cyst
- Cervical abnormalities (including abnormal cervical screening)
- Complications of early and late pregnancy
- Dysfunctional uterine bleeding, including causes of dysmenorrhoea, amenorrhoea and menorrhagia
- Gynaecological prolapse
- Infections of the vagina, cervix and endometrium
- Normal labour/delivery
- Antenatal care and diagnosis
- Menopause
- Uterine and ovarian malignancy