Original Article

Chaperones for Rectal and Genital Examinations in the Emergency Department: What do Patients and Physicians Want?

Authors: Sally A. Santen, MD, Naveen Seth, MD, Robin R. Hemphill, MD, MPH, Keith D. Wrenn, MD

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to compare patients’ preferences and physicians’ practice for the presence of chaperones during genitourinary examinations.


Methods: A survey of 163 emergency department patients and 52 physicians was used to evaluate patients’ preferences and physicians’ practices for the presence and gender of a chaperone during genital examinations.


Results: Most male patients (88%) did not care about the presence of a chaperone. Only 47% of female patients preferred a chaperone when a pelvic examination was to be performed by a male physician and only 26% preferred a chaperone with a female physician. One hundred percent of male and most female physicians (92%) used a chaperone for pelvic examinations. Most physicians do not ask patients whether they want a chaperone; however, most patients would like to be asked.


Conclusions: We conclude there is a discrepancy between what physicians do and what their patients desire.


Key Points


* Most male patients do not care about the presence of a chaperone.


* About half of female patients want a chaperone with a male physician and a quarter with a female physician.


* Nearly all physicians use a chaperone for pelvic examinations.


* There is a discrepancy between what physicians do and what their patients may desire.

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