Patient preferences for disposable and reusable vaginal specula and their willingness to compromise in the era of climate change: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

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.

Keywords: climate change; disposable; healthcare sustainability; patient preference; reusable; vaginal speculum; waste.