Patient preferences for disposable and reusable vaginal specula and their willingness to compromise in the era of climate change: A cross-sectional study.
BJOG
; 131(5): 684-689, 2024 Apr.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38073255
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate patient satisfaction on gynaecological examination with metal, plastic and biobased plastic vaginal specula, and to investigate whether patients are willing to compromise on comfort for a more sustainable healthcare system.DESIGN:
Cross-sectional study population-based survey.SETTING:
Gynaecological outpatient clinics in five Dutch hospitals. POPULATION Patients during general gynaecology consultation hours.METHODS:
A survey containing two questions about patient demographics, four about comfort and five about sustainability and healthcare was distributed. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
Comfort score (scale 1-10). SECONDARYOUTCOMES:
(1) temperature, size and ease of insertion, (2) willingness to compromise for a more sustainable healthcare system.RESULTS:
In all, 196 patients completed the survey. Biobased plastic vaginal specula scored significantly higher on comfort than the metal ones (mean 8.03 ± 1.65 versus 7.26 ± 1.51 respectively; P < 0.001). The biobased plastic vaginal speculum is significantly the most comfortable on temperature, whereas the metal speculum is the least comfortable (P < 0.007). Most patients are willing to compromise on comfort or are open to the reuse of disposables to contribute to a more sustainable healthcare. The majority of patients (77%) urge healthcare organisations to combat climate change.CONCLUSIONS:
There is a small but statistically significant difference in favour of a biobased plastic speculum regarding comfort score, although it might be questioned whether this is clinically relevant. Furthermore, patients are willing to compromise on comfort for a more sustainable healthcare, which should be a contributing factor in speculum selection.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Climate Change
/
Patient Preference
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
BJOG
Journal subject:
GINECOLOGIA
/
OBSTETRICIA
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Netherlands