Is There a Change in Patient Preference for a Female Colonoscopist during the Last Decade in Korea?
- Author:
Jung Min LEE
1
;
Eun Sun KIM
;
Hoon Jai CHUN
;
In Kyung YOO
;
Jae Min LEE
;
Seung Han KIM
;
Hyuk Soon CHOI
;
Bora KEUM
;
Yeon Seok SEO
;
Hong Sik LEE
;
Yoon Tae JEEN
;
Jong Jae PARK
;
Sang Woo LEE
;
Soon Ho UM
;
Chang Duck KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Colonoscopist; Embarrassment; Sex preference
- MeSH: Colonoscopy; Female; Humans; Korea; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Patient Preference; Patient Satisfaction; Prospective Studies
- From:Clinical Endoscopy 2018;51(1):72-79
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients may feel embarrassed during colonoscopy. Our study aimed to assess changes in patient preference, over the past decade, for the sex of their colonoscopist. METHODS: Prospective studies were performed at a single health center from July to September 2008, and from July to September 2016. Subjects included colonoscopy patients (2008: 354, 2016: 304) who were asked to complete a questionnaire before colonoscopy. RESULTS: In 2016, 69 patients (24.9%) expressed a sex preference, compared with 46 patients (14.6%) in 2008. By 2016, female patient preference for a female colonoscopist had significantly increased to 95% (odds ratio [OR], 2.678; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.418– 5.057; P=0.002). In multivariate analysis, patient sex (OR, 4.404; P=0.000), patient age (OR, 0.977; 95% CI, 0.961–0.992; P=0.004), and year of procedure (OR, 1.674; 95% CI, 1.028–2.752) were statistically significant factors in sex preference. Between 2008 and 2016, female patients preferred a female colonoscopist because of embarrassment. Male patients also preferred a male colonoscopist, and the primary reason shifted from expertise to patient embarrassment (2008: 29%, 2016: 63%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients have an increased gender preference for the colonoscopist because of embarrassment. Taking this into account can increase patient satisfaction during colonoscopy.
