Aspects of emotional and physical discomfort in gynecologic examination: A study of Turkish women


TUĞUT N., Golbasi Z.

Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, vol.40, no.6, pp.1777-1784, 2014 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 40 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2014
  • Doi Number: 10.1111/jog.12409
  • Journal Name: Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1777-1784
  • Keywords: emotional discomfort, gynecologic examination, physical discomfort, Turkish women, PELVIC EXAMINATION, EXPERIENCES, ATTITUDES
  • Lokman Hekim University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Aim This cross-sectional study was carried out to determine physical and emotional discomforts experienced before and after a gynecologic examination by women who presented to the outpatient clinic of the gynecology and obstetrics department at a university hospital. Material and Methods The sample of study was composed of 248 women. Data were collected with a survey form developed by researchers. T-test and variance analysis were used in statistical analysis. Results Emotional discomfort before the examination was felt by 80.2% of the women, while 80.6% stated they felt emotional discomfort after the examination. Physical discomfort before the examination was experienced by 67.3% of the women, while 76.6% stated that they felt physical discomfort after the examination. The emotional discomfort mean score was 5.02 ± 3.24 before examination and 4.62 ± 3.23 after examination (P > 0.05). The physical discomfort mean score was 3.38 ± 3.12 before examination and 3.94 ± 3.02 after examination and the difference between mean scores was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion The women felt more physical discomfort during the examination than they anticipated beforehand. The emotional discomfort in women who preferred a female physician was significantly higher than in those who preferred a male physician or who had no preference on the sex of their physician. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research © 2014 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.