title: Thanks for asking: Adolescent attitudes and preferences regarding the use of chaperones during physical examinations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is no uniformity as to how and when chaperones should be used for general and intimate (genitalia and/or breasts) physical examinations of adolescents.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore adolescents' attitudes and preferences regarding the use of medical chaperones during physical examinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present analysis was a cross-sectional descriptive study performed as part of a quality improvement project in the Adolescent Medicine Clinics at The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, Ontario) between January 1 and April 30, 2011. Adolescents 13 to 18 years of age completed an anonymous 10-item, self-administered questionnaire regarding their thoughts on chaperones during physical examinations. Demographic and descriptive data were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 127 adolescents participated in the present study. The mean (± SD) age was 16.3±1.5 years and the majority (93.7%) were female. More than one-half (61%) of female adolescents had previous experience with an intimate examination; however, a chaperone was present only 36% of the time. Seventy percent of female adolescents wanted the choice of a chaperone for a general examination compared with 61% for an intimate examination. Among female adolescents with past chaperone experience, 78% wanted the choice of a chaperone for subsequent intimate examinations, compared with 55% among those with no previous chaperone experience. Only 21% believed they would ask for a chaperone if one were not offered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there was variation in adolescents' attitudes and preferences regarding the use of chaperones, many females indicated a desire to discuss the option of a chaperone for all types of examinations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children;; University of Toronto;
authors.forename: Renee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children;; University of Toronto;; Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: Debra K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Katzman
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children;; University of Toronto;
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children;; University of Toronto;
authors.forename: Eudice
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children;; University of Toronto;
authors.forename: Alene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toulany
keywords: Adolescent medicine; Chaperone; Intimate examination; Physical examination