|
|
| dawn |
Arriving Prepared ~
Key Questions ~ Breast Exam ~ Pelvic Exam
Project Prepare gynecological teaching associates (GTAs) empower and encourage women to be partners in their own health care.
GTA Objectives
Project Prepare GTAs have the following objectives in patient education:
- Provide on-line information to the public regarding female breast and pelvic exams
- Teach private sessions, small groups and large lectures on how women can become partners in their own health care
- Empower women to become more familiar with their anatomy
- Prepare women to arrive at a medical visit with a list of questions and concerns
- Encourage women to engage in dialogue with health care providers regarding practices and procedures
Project Prepare GTAs teach women to reflect on their health and to list questions and concerns they want to address with their health care provider.
Women are encouraged to consider these questions before their appointment with their provider:
- When was your last exam?
- What is your experience with previous medical exams?
- When was the first day of your last menstrual period?
- What is your "normal" menstrual cycle?
- Do you have any sexual concerns? (For further information, visit the Risk Assessment part of this website.)
- Since your last exam, what have been your medical problems or questions - how did you handled any problems?
Project Prepare believes that all medical examinations should be interactive. GTAs encourage women to feel empowered to say or ask their health care providers any of the following:
- I didn't understand that. Would you explain that to me?
- Why are you asking me that question?
- What are you doing?
- Please stop, that is painful.
- Is there anything I, or you, can do to make this more comfortable for me?
- Why do you have to do that procedure?
- What can I do to prevent this problem in the future?
- Thank you for explaining that to me.
- I appreciate the extra time or care you took with me.
Project Prepare GTAs teach women to perform a thorough Breast Self Exam (BSE) and participate in the Clinical Breast Exam with their health care provider.
Project Prepare GTAs teach women to perform a Pelvic Self Exam and partner with their health care provider in the Clinical Pelvic Exam.
|
|
