Utilization of the Mirror During Pelvic Exams

TriHealth

Status: Completed

Conditions: Pelvic Exam

Treatments: Other: Usage of a mirror

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03785548

18-107

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a prospective cohort study to determine if using a birthing mirror during the patient's pelvic examination decreases patients's degree of vulnerability and discomfort.

Full description

In Obstetrics and Gynecology and its gynecologic subspecialties, the pelvic examination is routine practice for screening and diagnostic purposes. Nevertheless, due to their intimate nature, pelvic examinations may result in loss of control, embarrassment, discomfort and anxiety.

The mirror pelvic exam has been a proposed technique to decrease patient anxiety and improve comfort during an already uncomfortable examination. However, little research has focused on this modality to date.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the mirror pelvic exam decreases the level of vulnerability and discomfort experienced during the pelvic examination.

Enrollment: 147 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 80 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• New patients undergoing a pelvic exam performed by a physician at Cincinnati Urogynecology Associates, TriHealth

Exclusion criteria

• Existing patients
• Unwillingness to participate in the study
• Physical or mental impairment that would affect the subject's ability to visualize the mirror during examination or to complete questionnaires
• Inability to understand English

Trial design

147 participants in 2 patient groups

Mirror group

Description:

This group of patients agree to have the mirror pelvic exam, and they will undergo routine pelvic examination by a physician with the usage of a mirror in the room.

Treatment:

Other: Usage of a mirror

No mirror group

Description:

This group of patients decline a mirror, and they will undergo the standard pelvic examination.