NCJ Number
228785
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 33 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2009 Pages: 709-716
Date Published
October 2009
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This observational study examined a draft chaperone policy for implementation at outpatient pediatric clinics and sought to determine whether the policy was acceptable to patients, their caretakers, and to the hospital staff.
Abstract
Although most offers of hospital staff examination chaperones were declined, patients and their families appeared to appreciate the offer. Clinicians often were not aware they had made sensitive inquiries, but were more accurate judging whether they had conducted sensitive exams. Patient and parent opinions about what constitutes sensitive inquiries and examinations and preferences for or against chaperone use varied unpredictably. This suggests that clinicians should inquire about their patients' individual preferences. Both the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statements on the use of chaperones during examinations were used to develop a policy specifying that chaperones should be offered for examinations involving contact with sensitive body areas, but the patient's and the family's wishes for chaperones were to be respected. This draft policy was evaluated by an observational study of 117 outpatient pediatric clinic patients. The study sought to evaluate child, parent, and medical provider preferences for chaperones for outpatient encounters and to evaluate the acceptability and frequency of utilization following institution of a chaperone policy. Tables and references