Japanese women's perspectives on pelvic examinations in the United States. Looking behind a cultural curtain.

Clinicians may help place their Japanese patients at ease by acknowledging nonuse of a curtain in the U.S., and explaining the intentional use of a private room and sheet to protect patient privacy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate overseas Japanese women's preferences on whether to use a curtain to separate themselves from the provider during pelvic examinations in the United States, as practiced in Japan. STUDY DESIGN: We qualitatively interviewed 19 overseas Japanese women who presented to a clinic serving Japanese people living in southeastern Michigan. We synthesized this interview data into a cohesive overview of the content and used illustrative quotes generated by the participants to provide a context. RESULTS: Most participants (n = 12) approved of the U.S. style of examination, including the use of private rooms and a sheet to cover the perineum. A minority of women (n = 4) said they were neutral to the approach, 2 preferred the Japanese examination style, and 1 did not like pelvic examinations. Some participants strongly disliked the use of the curtain and the structure of examination rooms in Japan. CONCLUSION: Most participating women did not support using a curtain during pelvic examinations in the U.S., as practiced in Japan, and some were critical of the Japanese practice. Clinicians may help place their Japanese patients at ease by acknowledging nonuse of a curtain in the U.S., and explaining the intentional use of a private room and sheet to protect patient privacy.