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Speculum self-insertion: an alternative method for gynaecological examination?
Marie-Morgane Veto1, Julie Chazalon1, Corinne Atallah-Seive1
1Department of Education and Research in General Practice, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Etienne, France.
Family Practice
|March 22, 2024
Summary
Speculum self-insertion empowers women by reducing discomfort and anxiety during gynecological exams. This patient-centered approach enhances trust and communication between women and healthcare providers.
Area of Science:
- Gynecology
- Patient-centered care
- Qualitative research
Background:
- Speculum examinations can cause patient discomfort and anxiety, potentially leading to delayed or avoided healthcare.
- Speculum self-insertion, originating in the 1970s self-help movement, remains under-assessed and largely unknown to many healthcare providers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate women's perspectives on speculum self-insertion.
- To explore healthcare providers' experiences with this method.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study conducted from December 2021 to October 2022.
- Included semi-structured interviews with 10 women and focus groups/interviews with 13 healthcare providers.
- Data analyzed using inductive approach and grounded theory.
Main Results:
- Speculum self-insertion is perceived as a method to decrease discomfort and ease insertion.
- It promotes patient participation, mitigating power imbalances in the doctor-patient relationship.
- Both patients and providers reported improved trust and communication with self-insertion.
Conclusions:
- Speculum self-insertion offers an alternative to traditional practitioner insertion.
- This technique can be offered to all women by interested practitioners.
- It represents a patient-centered approach to gynecological examinations.
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