TY - JOUR
T1 - Patient preferences for disposable and reusable vaginal specula and their willingness to compromise in the era of climate change
T2 - A cross-sectional study
AU - Ten Buuren, Amber A A
AU - Poolman, Tessa B
AU - Bongers, Marlies Y
AU - Bullens, Lauren M
AU - Van Hanegem, Nehalennia
AU - Klerkx, Wenche M
AU - Timmermans, Anne
AU - Zuithoff, Nicolaas P A
AU - Kwee, Anneke
PY - 2024/4
Y1 - 2024/4
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - climate change
KW - disposable
KW - healthcare sustainability
KW - patient preference
KW - reusable
KW - vaginal speculum
KW - waste
U2 - 10.1111/1471-0528.17733
DO - 10.1111/1471-0528.17733
M3 - Article
SN - 1470-0328
VL - 131
SP - 684
EP - 689
JO - Bjog-an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
JF - Bjog-an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
IS - 5
ER -