PATIENTS ATTITUDES REGARDING CHAPERONES DURING PHYSICAL-EXAMINATIONS

PATIENTS ATTITUDES REGARDING CHAPERONES DURING PHYSICAL-EXAMINATIONS

Penn M A; Bourguet C C

Journal of Family Practice

1992

1992-12

Background. This study was undertaken to determine the preference of patients concerning the presence of a chaperon during physical examination of the breasts, genitals, rectum, heart and lungs, or abdomen. The study was designed to quantify preference differences between male and female patients and between teenagers and adults, and to determine whether the sex of the examining physician influenced chaperon preference. Methods. Preference survey data were obtained from 251 female subjects and 201 male subjects over the age of 13 years who visited a family practice center in a midwestern urban community. Results. The majority of patients of either sex and all ages did not care if a chaperon was present. However, substantial proportions of adult women (29%) and female teenagers (46%) preferred that a chaperone be present during a breast, pelvic, or rectal examination by a male physician. Thirty-six percent of adult women and 63% of female teenagers wanted a chaperon present during a first examination of these regions. Adults of both sexes felt the nurse would be the best chaperone, whereas teenagers ranked a parent first and the nurse second. Patients indicated that they felt comfortable asking for a chaperone. Conclusions. Although most patients have no strong preference, female patients, especially female teenagers, should be given the option of having a chaperone present during an examination of the breasts, pelvis, or rectum by a male physician.

adolescent females; General & Internal Medicine; patient advocacy; patient satisfaction; physical examinations; physician-patient relations; preferences

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Journal Article

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Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

639-643

6

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