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Vaginal sonography and gender preference for sonographer
P O'Sullivan1, P Janssen, R D Wilson
1Diagnostic and Ambulatory Program, British Columbia's Women's Hospital and Health Centre, Vancouver, Canada.
Journal of Clinical Ultrasound : JCU
|January 15, 1999
Summary
Most pregnant women prefer a female sonographer for vaginal sonography due to comfort. This highlights the need for patient choice and information when new medical technologies are introduced.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Medical Imaging
- Patient Experience Research
Background:
- Vaginal sonography is a new diagnostic tool for pregnant uterus imaging.
- Its invasive nature raises questions about patient preferences for sonographer gender.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate patient gender preference for sonographers during vaginal sonography.
- To understand patient comfort levels with different sonographer genders.
Main Methods:
- Anonymous written surveys were distributed to 1,002 pregnant women.
- Surveys collected data on gender preference, education, ethnicity, and prior experience.
Main Results:
- 62% of women preferred a female sonographer.
- The primary reason cited was increased comfort with the same gender.
- Respondents were predominantly 25-40 years old, married, white, and multiparous.
Conclusions:
- Patient input is crucial when implementing new medical technologies.
- Offering patient choice and accessible information is essential.
- Healthcare providers should consider patient preferences for sonographer gender.