Patients’ views of medical positioning for proctologic examination

Ole Gebbensleben1, York Hilger2, Henning Rohde31Park-Klinik Berlin-Weissensee, Innere Abteilung, Berlin, Germany; 2Institut für Biostatistik, Freiburg, Germany; 3Praxis für Endoskopie und Proktologie, Berlin, GermanyBackground: It is unknown which proctological position is...

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Main Authors: Ole Gebbensleben, York Hilger, Henning Rohde
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2009-12-01
Series:Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology
Online Access:http://www.dovepress.com/patientsrsquo-views-of-medical-positioning-for-proctologic-examination-a3792
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author Ole Gebbensleben
York Hilger
Henning Rohde
author_facet Ole Gebbensleben
York Hilger
Henning Rohde
author_sort Ole Gebbensleben
collection DOAJ
description Ole Gebbensleben1, York Hilger2, Henning Rohde31Park-Klinik Berlin-Weissensee, Innere Abteilung, Berlin, Germany; 2Institut für Biostatistik, Freiburg, Germany; 3Praxis für Endoskopie und Proktologie, Berlin, GermanyBackground: It is unknown which proctological position is most embarrassing to patients.Methods: Individuals consecutively referred to our outpatient clinic in order to determine the causes of anal and/or abdominal complaints were randomized to complete an unvalidated six-item questionnaire which asked for their preferred proctologic positioning either before or after a proctological examination in knee–chest position followed by inspection of the anal verge, digital examination of the anal canal, and anoscopy. A third group of patients referred for gastroscopy was asked to complete the questionnaire before being gastroscoped.Results: One hundred seventy-eight individuals of both genders aged 16–80 years who consecutively entered our outpatient clinic were enrolled. One third in each group had never experienced any of the offered medical positionings. Most patients favored the Sims’ position if they had the choice. Randomized patients favored the knee–chest position more after experiencing it compared to those without experience (P < 0.03). Patients favored the positions they had recently experienced irrespective of the other positions offered in the questionnaire (P < 0.05). Individual answers to the question ‘which position do you find most embarrassing?’ did not depend on sex or age at first examination or when their last examination was performed. The majority of patients (55.2%–71.4%) held that no type of proctological positioning was most embarrassing to them.Conclusions: The medical profession is authorized to use the proctological positioning that allows the most reliable anal diagnoses.Keywords: anal bleeding, anal itch, anal pain, proctological positioning, pruritus ani, hemorrhoids, benign anal diseases
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spelling doaj.art-e435c0562e79490e8d9d7a818d81a0482022-12-22T03:08:17ZengDove Medical PressClinical and Experimental Gastroenterology1178-70232009-12-012009default133138Patients’ views of medical positioning for proctologic examinationOle GebbenslebenYork HilgerHenning RohdeOle Gebbensleben1, York Hilger2, Henning Rohde31Park-Klinik Berlin-Weissensee, Innere Abteilung, Berlin, Germany; 2Institut für Biostatistik, Freiburg, Germany; 3Praxis für Endoskopie und Proktologie, Berlin, GermanyBackground: It is unknown which proctological position is most embarrassing to patients.Methods: Individuals consecutively referred to our outpatient clinic in order to determine the causes of anal and/or abdominal complaints were randomized to complete an unvalidated six-item questionnaire which asked for their preferred proctologic positioning either before or after a proctological examination in knee–chest position followed by inspection of the anal verge, digital examination of the anal canal, and anoscopy. A third group of patients referred for gastroscopy was asked to complete the questionnaire before being gastroscoped.Results: One hundred seventy-eight individuals of both genders aged 16–80 years who consecutively entered our outpatient clinic were enrolled. One third in each group had never experienced any of the offered medical positionings. Most patients favored the Sims’ position if they had the choice. Randomized patients favored the knee–chest position more after experiencing it compared to those without experience (P < 0.03). Patients favored the positions they had recently experienced irrespective of the other positions offered in the questionnaire (P < 0.05). Individual answers to the question ‘which position do you find most embarrassing?’ did not depend on sex or age at first examination or when their last examination was performed. The majority of patients (55.2%–71.4%) held that no type of proctological positioning was most embarrassing to them.Conclusions: The medical profession is authorized to use the proctological positioning that allows the most reliable anal diagnoses.Keywords: anal bleeding, anal itch, anal pain, proctological positioning, pruritus ani, hemorrhoids, benign anal diseaseshttp://www.dovepress.com/patientsrsquo-views-of-medical-positioning-for-proctologic-examination-a3792
spellingShingle Ole Gebbensleben
York Hilger
Henning Rohde
Patients’ views of medical positioning for proctologic examination
Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology
title Patients’ views of medical positioning for proctologic examination
title_full Patients’ views of medical positioning for proctologic examination
title_fullStr Patients’ views of medical positioning for proctologic examination
title_full_unstemmed Patients’ views of medical positioning for proctologic examination
title_short Patients’ views of medical positioning for proctologic examination
title_sort patients amp rsquo views of medical positioning for proctologic examination
url http://www.dovepress.com/patientsrsquo-views-of-medical-positioning-for-proctologic-examination-a3792
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AT henningrohde patientsamprsquoviewsofmedicalpositioningforproctologicexamination