Chaperones for intimate examinations in family medicine: findings from a pilot study in Melbourne, Australia.
BACKGROUND
The use of medical chaperones during clinical examinations is important whether one practises as a specialist, nurse, medical student or generalist. Chaperone use in general practice remains largely unknown in most countries across the world and, what is known is limited to a handful of countries. Their use in Australian general practice remains unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the attitudes and practices of a cohort of general practitioners in urban Melbourne regarding the use of chaperones in their daily clinical practice.


METHODS
Self-administered postal questionnaire to pilot group of general practitioners in urban Melbourne, Australia.


METHODS
Frequency of chaperone use; views on chaperone use itself; preferred choice for the role of chaperone; main reasons for using chaperones.


RESULTS
The majority (95% respondents) had never or occasionally used a chaperone. The use of chaperones correlated with general practitioner gender - male general practitioners were more likely to use a chaperone. General practitioners preferred choice as chaperone was the practice nurse. There was no association found between chaperone use and the respondents' age, practice size or the availability of a practice nurse. The most highly rated influence by general practitioners for using a chaperone was because of anticipated patient embarrassment and/or distress.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first step in understanding attitudes and experiences of general practitioners in general practice in Australia. The results of a larger, national study would provide further insight into this important issue taking into account the realities of general practice in Australia and relationship between general practitioners and patients.
Monash University, Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Peninsula Campus, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Kay
K
Jones
Monash University, Notting Hill, Victoria, Australia.
Ruby
R
Biezen
Monash University, Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Peninsula Campus, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Bronwyn
B
Beovich
University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, United Kingdom o.vanhecke@dundee.ac.uk.
Oliver
O
van Hecke
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061348:Medical Chaperones / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019037:Urban Health Services
general practice; intimate examination; medical chaperone