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- Title
Thanks for asking: Adolescent attitudes and preferences regarding the use of chaperones during physical examinations.
- Authors
Morgan, Renee; Katzman, Debra K.; Kaufman, Miriam; Goldberg, Eudice; Toulany, Alene
- 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.
- Subjects
ONTARIO; ADOLESCENT medicine; GYNECOLOGIC examination; HEALTH attitudes; RESEARCH methodology; PHYSICAL diagnosis; QUALITY assurance; QUESTIONNAIRES; TEENAGERS' conduct of life; CROSS-sectional method; DESCRIPTIVE statistics
- Publication
Paediatrics & Child Health (1205-7088), 2016, Vol 21, Issue 4, p191
- ISSN
1205-7088
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/pch/21.4.191