Is women patients’ preference for men staff a barrier to computed tomography colonography? A pilot study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the gender preferences of women patients for computed tomography (CT) colonography staff and the impact on acceptance for insertion of rectal catheters.

Methods: A questionnaire was provided to women patients who received CT colonography. Patients reported their gender preferences for CT colonography staff and experiences with insertion of rectal catheters.

Results: A total of 91 women patients (mean age 67.6 years) completed the questionnaire. Of these patients, 11.0% (10 patients) preferred a woman staff, 4.4% (4 patients) preferred a man staff, and 84.6% (77 patients) reported no preferences. Regarding patient acceptance of catheter insertion, 74.7% (68 patients) of them felt easy, 16.5% (15 patients) felt neutral, and 8.8% (8 patients) felt difficult. Patients who reported preference for women staff more often felt much burdensome during rectal catheter insertion than patients who had no preferences for staff gender.

Conclusion: Women patients might have no strong gender preferences for CT colonography staff.