Do We Need Chaperones for Intimate Examination in Urology Clinics? Patients' Preferences and Urologists' Practice in Scotland

Abstract

Introduction:

General Medical Council (GMC) guidelines and the Ayling report recommend that a chaperone should be offered to all patients for every intimate examination. We wanted to establish whether these guidelines reflect men's preferences and urologists' current practice in intimate examination.

Methods:

All male patients attending urology outpatient clinics over a 3 month period at two hospitals were asked to fill in a preference questionnaire. A separate questionnaire was sent to all urologists in Scotland to establish the current practice.

Results:

315 patients returned evaluable questionnaires. While 227 patients (73%) felt that a chaperone should be offered, only 45 patients (14.3%) wanted a chaperone. Of these, only 15 patients (4.8%) would not have been comfortable to ask for a chaperone. 64 (75.3%) Scottish urologists responded and only 3 (4.7%) urologists offered a chaperone to all male patients. 47 (73.4%) urologists did not routinely counsel patients about intimate examination under anaesthesia as part of transurethral surgery.

Conclusion:

Most men do not wish a chaperone to be present. Recommended best practice will protect the small minority of patients who want to have a chaperone. This involves the offer of a chaperone to all patients and accurate record keeping in the patient's case note.