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

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.