TY - JOUR
T1 - Australian sexual health practitioners' use of chaperones for genital examinations
T2 - A survey of attitudes and practice
AU - Newton, Danielle C.
AU - Fairley, Christopher K.
AU - Teague, Richard
AU - Donovan, Basil
AU - Bowden, Francis J.
AU - Bilardi, Jade
AU - Pitts, Marian
AU - Chen, Marcus Y.
PY - 2007
Y1 - 2007
N2 - Objectives: To examine the current practice and attitudes of Australian sexual health practitioners towards the use of chaperones for genital examinations. Methods: In July 2006, an anonymous, self-completed questionnaire was mailed to members of the Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine. Results: Of the 166 questionnaires sent to practitioners, 110 (66%) were returned completed. Of the 110 respondents, only 9% and 19% reported that their clinic routinely provided chaperones for all male and female genital examinations, respectively. Among practitioners whose services did not offer chaperones routinely, chaperones were offered with a mean frequency of 19% for female examinations and 8% for male examinations (P ≤ 0.01). Compared to female practitioners, significantly more male practitioners thought a chaperone was important for medico-legal purposes when examining females (72% v. 53%, P < 0.05). Compared to male practitioners, significantly more female practitioners thought a chaperone was sometimes important for patient support when examining male patients (52% v. 26%, P < 0.001). Only 39% (n ≤ 18) of male practitioners and 36% (n ≤ 23) of female practitioners felt that resources spent on chaperones were justified by the benefits they provided. Conclusions: Despite only a minority of practitioners offering chaperones to patients or using them during examinations, many feel they are important for medico-legal reasons and as support for the patient. Best practice may be for services to routinely offer a chaperone and record instances where an offer is declined. This provides patients with choice and practitioners with some level of protection.
AB - Objectives: To examine the current practice and attitudes of Australian sexual health practitioners towards the use of chaperones for genital examinations. Methods: In July 2006, an anonymous, self-completed questionnaire was mailed to members of the Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine. Results: Of the 166 questionnaires sent to practitioners, 110 (66%) were returned completed. Of the 110 respondents, only 9% and 19% reported that their clinic routinely provided chaperones for all male and female genital examinations, respectively. Among practitioners whose services did not offer chaperones routinely, chaperones were offered with a mean frequency of 19% for female examinations and 8% for male examinations (P ≤ 0.01). Compared to female practitioners, significantly more male practitioners thought a chaperone was important for medico-legal purposes when examining females (72% v. 53%, P < 0.05). Compared to male practitioners, significantly more female practitioners thought a chaperone was sometimes important for patient support when examining male patients (52% v. 26%, P < 0.001). Only 39% (n ≤ 18) of male practitioners and 36% (n ≤ 23) of female practitioners felt that resources spent on chaperones were justified by the benefits they provided. Conclusions: Despite only a minority of practitioners offering chaperones to patients or using them during examinations, many feel they are important for medico-legal reasons and as support for the patient. Best practice may be for services to routinely offer a chaperone and record instances where an offer is declined. This provides patients with choice and practitioners with some level of protection.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34249327254&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1071/SH07025
DO - 10.1071/SH07025
M3 - Article
SN - 1448-5028
VL - 4
SP - 95
EP - 97
JO - Sexual Health
JF - Sexual Health
IS - 2
ER -