Attitudes of patients towards the use of chaperones in primary care.

There exists wide variation in practice regarding the use of chaperones for physical examination of the patient in primary care. Guidelines agree that a chaperone should be offered or used whenever a patient is undergoing an intimate examination. This paper aims to gauge patient views on the use of chaperones in primary care. Focus groups were used to identify themes surrounding the use of chaperones in primary care. Questionnaires were then mailed to 404 women and 400 men aged 16 years to 65 years identified from the lists of three research practices in the Northern and Yorkshire Region. The most important factor for the patient in an intimate examination is the attitude of the doctor; the patient views the offer of a chaperone as a sign of respect by the doctor. The development of shared decision-making within a consultation involving an intimate examination should be seen as more important than a rigid approach towards using a chaperone.