Panamanian women׳s experience of vaginal examination in labour: A questionnaire validation.
OBJECTIVE
to validate a tool that allows healthcare providers to obtain accurate information regarding Panamanian women׳s thoughts and feelings about vaginal examination during labour that can be used in other Latin-American countries.


METHODS
validation study based on a database from a cross-sectional study carried out in two tertiary care hospitals in Panama City, Panama. Women in the immediate postpartum period who had spontaneous labour onset and uncomplicated deliveries were included in the study from April to August 2008. Researchers used a survey designed by Lewin et al. that included 20 questions related to a patient׳s experience during a vaginal examination.


RESULTS
five constructs (factors) related to a patient׳s experience of vaginal examination during labour were identified: Approval (Alpha Cronbach׳s 0.72), Perception (0.67), Rejection (0.40), Consent (0.51), and Stress (0.20).


CONCLUSIONS
it was demonstrated the validity of the scale and its constructs used to obtain information related to vaginal examination during labour, including patients' experiences with examination and healthcare staff performance.


CONCLUSIONS
utilisation of the scale will allow institutions to identify items that need improvement and address these areas in order to promote the best care for patients in labour.
Institute for Clinical Research Education (ICRE); Researcher, Global Health, Division of Trauma and Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Research Associate at Cisalva Institute, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. Researcher at Research Group of Mental Health and Psychiatric Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. Electronic address: fjb9@pitt.edu.
Francisco J
FJ
Bonilla-Escobar
Cisalva Institute, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. Electronic address: deliaortegalenis@gmail.com.
Delia
D
Ortega-Lenis
Group of Trauma and Injury Epidemiology, Group of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. Electronic address: joanacrojas@gmail.com.
Johanna C
JC
Rojas-Mirquez
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Clinic Hospital of Valladolid, Spain. Electronic address: christlord26@gmail.com.
Christian
C
Ortega-Loubon
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D058869:Gynecological Examination / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology*; D008016:Life Change Events; D010176:Panama; D010465:Perception; D011247:Pregnancy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Gynaecological Examination; Labour; Maternal Health Services; Obstetric; Perception; Validation Studies [Publication Type] (Source: MeSH-NLM)