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 outcome measures: Comfort score (scale 1–10). Secondary outcomes: (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.
Visit resource
Thank you - important that although there may be a slight benefit comfort wise, the vast majority of patients are happy, and indeed want us to move back to re-usable speculums. I also suspect technique is more important than the speculum used.
Please log in or sign up to comment.