title: Patient preferences for chaperone use during transvaginal sonography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine patient preferences for use of a chaperone during transvaginal sonography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Informed consent was waived for this IRB-exempt, HIPAA-compliant, retrospective review of prospectively acquired quality improvement survey data. Willing unique consecutive adult patients (n = 155) scheduled to undergo a transvaginal pelvic ultrasound between March 1, 2015 and August 15, 2015 completed a survey before and after the ultrasound examination assessing their opinions regarding the need for a chaperone. Surveys were collected from three outpatient centers (n = 35/center) and an inpatient center (n = 50) in the same health system. Respondent opinions were compared with Chi-Square test or Fisher's Exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most respondents (78% [121/155]) had previously undergone a transvaginal pelvic ultrasound. Respondents were significantly more likely to prefer a chaperone if their sonographer was male than if their sonographer was female (pre-ultrasound: 46% [69/155] vs. 12% [19/155], p < 0.0001; post-ultrasound: 43% [66/155] vs. 6% [10/155], p < 0.0001). The fraction of respondents who said they would be somewhat or substantially reassured by a chaperone if their sonographer was female was similar to the fraction of respondents who said they would be somewhat or substantially embarrassed by presence of a female chaperone (pre-ultrasound: 12% [19/155] vs. 6% [9/155], p = 0.07; post-ultrasound: 6% [10/155] vs. 7% [11/155], p = 0.82; respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Approximately half of adult women scheduled to undergo transvaginal pelvic sonography prefer that a chaperone be present if their sonographer is male, but in general do not feel it is necessary if their sonographer is female. These opinions do not change after performance of a transvaginal pelvic ultrasound.
authors: Michigan Radiology Quality Collaborative (MRQC), Ann Arbor, USA. matdaven@med.umich.edu.|Department of Radiology B2-A209P, University of Michigan Health System, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5030, USA. matdaven@med.umich.edu.
authors: Matthew S
authors: MS
authors: Davenport
authors: Department of Radiology B2-A209P, University of Michigan Health System, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5030, USA. dbrimm@med.umich.edu.
authors: Diane
authors: D
authors: Brimm
authors: Department of Radiology B2-A209P, University of Michigan Health System, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5030, USA. jrubin@med.umich.edu.
authors: Jonathan M
authors: JM
authors: Rubin
authors: Michigan Radiology Quality Collaborative (MRQC), Ann Arbor, USA. ellakaz@med.umich.edu.|Department of Radiology B2-A209P, University of Michigan Health System, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5030, USA. ellakaz@med.umich.edu.
authors: Ella A
authors: EA
authors: Kazerooni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D057240:Patient Preference; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D014621:Vagina
keywords: Chaperone; Patient preferences; Pelvic; Quality; Transvaginal ultrasound