Use of chaperones during pelvic examinations of female adolescents. Results of a survey

Abstract

The male membership of the Society for Adolescent Medicine was surveyed regarding the use of a chaperone during pelvic examination of female adolescents. Five hundred seven questionnaires were mailed, and 292 physicians (58%) responded. One hundred eight (37%) reported performing pelvic examinations without a chaperone present. This was usually done because of patient preference. There was no difference between academic and private practice physicians. There were many categories listed as necessitating the presence of a chaperone. Here again, patient preference was the most frequent. Other reasons for using a chaperone included a patient with emotional problems, a history of rape or sexual abuse, a seductive patient, an uncomfortable patient or physician, a first pelvic examination, and medicolegal issues. Although it has been traditionally recommended that a chaperone be present during a pelvic examination, our data suggest that this is not sometimes the case for about one third of the male physicians in the Society for Adolescent Medicine.