Patient and Provider Opinions Regarding Chaperones for Sensitive Exams.

Area of Science:

• Medical Practice
• Patient Experience
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Chaperone use during sensitive medical exams lacks standardized guidance, relying on institutional policies.
• Limited data exists on patient and provider attitudes toward chaperone use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey patient and medical provider attitudes regarding chaperone use during sensitive exams.
• To identify factors influencing preferences for or against chaperone presence.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted with patients and providers at a tertiary military medical center across various specialties.
• Data analysis included sub-analyses based on patient demographics (gender, age, sexual abuse history) and provider characteristics (gender, training status).

Main Results:

• 57% of patients had no preference for chaperones; 19% preferred one, and 24% preferred none.
• Female patients and those with a history of sexual abuse were more likely to prefer a chaperone.
• 42% of providers always used a chaperone; 79% were more likely to use one for opposite-gender patients, and 43% selected chaperone gender based on patient gender.

Conclusions:

• Patient preference for chaperones during sensitive exams is influenced by gender and sexual abuse history.
• These findings suggest factors to consider when developing institutional policies on chaperone use.
• Further research is needed on preferences among homosexual and transgender patients.