Australian sexual health practitioners' use of chaperones for genital examinations: a survey of attitudes and practice.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Newton
Danielle C
DC
School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.
Fairley
Christopher K
CK
Teague
Richard
R
Donovan
Basil
B
Bowden
Francis J
FJ
Bilardi
Jade
J
Pitts
Marian
M
Chen
Marcus Y
MY
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000175:diagnosis; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000175:diagnosis; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*