Utilization of the Mirror During Pelvic Exams

Completed

Brief Summary: 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.

Detailed 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.

Recruitment & Eligibility

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

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Mirror group	Usage of a mirror	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.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Group Difference in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) on Level of Vulnerability	30 minutes after the pelvic exam	VAS on vulnerability level will be measured after the pelvic exam, and group difference after controlling for baseline vulnerability, will be calculated. The VAS is a validated 100 millimeter scale with 'no vulnerability' represented as 0 mm and 'very vulnerable' equating to 100 mm.
Group Difference in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) on Level of Pain/Discomfort	30 minutes after the pelvic exam	VAS on discomfort level will be measured after the pelvic exam, and group difference after controlling for baseline discomfort level, will be calculated. The VAS is a validated 100 millimeter scale with 'no pain' represented as 0 mm and 'most pain' equating to 100 mm.

Secondary Outcome Measures