J Johnson Lecture D
Pelvic Examination Study - Multiple Interventions Experimental Study
Problem: Pelvic Examinations are threatening.
This study was conducted with women 18 to 25 years of age having pelvic exams. The women – all of whom had previously had one pelvic examination – received four different kinds of information:
Research design - Multiple Group Experimental Post Test ONLY.
- A control group heard why it was important to have the pelvic exam.
- The second group received instruction in relaxation. The women in this group were taught how to relax the abdomen and how to do abdominal breathing, and they were given an opportunity to practice.
- The third group heard sensory information included with the procedural steps of the exam. Some of the sensations mentioned were the coldness of the stirrups, discomfort of the exam table, coldness of instruments, feel of wetness, the clicking sound of the speculum, pressure on the abdomen, the feeling of a bowel movement, and intravaginal pressure.
- The fourth group heard sensory information and procedural steps (#3) and also relaxation practice (#2 above).
Results: the relaxation instruction alone did not help the patients to be more calm or cooperative during the procedure. But, the relaxation instruction combined with the sensation information got the best results. This group didn’t report being less frightened of the pelvic examination, although they kept their legs positioned correctly for the exam, their hands did not drift, and their pulse rates were lower – all signs of less distress.
In the text box below describe why you think the relaxation instruction alone did not help these patients.
