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.
METHODS: Cross-sectional study: population-based survey.
METHODS: Gynaecological outpatient clinics in five Dutch hospitals.
METHODS: 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.
METHODS: Comfort score (scale 1-10).
RESULTS: (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.
METHODS: Cross-sectional study: population-based survey.
METHODS: Gynaecological outpatient clinics in five Dutch hospitals.
METHODS: 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.
METHODS: Comfort score (scale 1-10).
RESULTS: (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.
摘要：
目的：评估患者对金属妇科检查的满意度，塑料和生物基塑料阴道镜，并调查患者是否愿意为更可持续的医疗保健系统而在舒适度上妥协。
方法：横断面研究：基于人群的调查。
方法：荷兰五家医院的妇科门诊。
方法：一般妇科咨询时间的患者。
方法：一项包含两个关于患者人口统计学问题的调查，分发了四个关于舒适的信息，五个关于可持续性和医疗保健的信息。
方法：舒适评分（量表1-10）。
结果：（1）温度，尺寸和易于插入，(2)愿意为更可持续的医疗体系妥协。
结果：总而言之，196名患者完成了调查。生物基塑料阴道镜的舒适度明显高于金属阴道镜（分别为8.03±1.65和7.26±1.51；P<0.001）。生物基塑料阴道窥器在温度上是最舒适的，而金属窥器最不舒适(P<0.007)。大多数患者愿意在舒适方面妥协，或者愿意重复使用一次性用品，为更可持续的医疗保健做出贡献。大多数患者（77％）敦促医疗机构应对气候变化。
结论：在舒适评分方面，对生物基塑料窥器的支持存在微小但统计学上显著的差异，尽管可能会质疑这是否与临床相关。此外，患者愿意在舒适方面妥协，以实现更可持续的医疗保健，这应该是窥器选择的一个促成因素。
方法：横断面研究：基于人群的调查。
方法：荷兰五家医院的妇科门诊。
方法：一般妇科咨询时间的患者。
方法：一项包含两个关于患者人口统计学问题的调查，分发了四个关于舒适的信息，五个关于可持续性和医疗保健的信息。
方法：舒适评分（量表1-10）。
结果：（1）温度，尺寸和易于插入，(2)愿意为更可持续的医疗体系妥协。
结果：总而言之，196名患者完成了调查。生物基塑料阴道镜的舒适度明显高于金属阴道镜（分别为8.03±1.65和7.26±1.51；P<0.001）。生物基塑料阴道窥器在温度上是最舒适的，而金属窥器最不舒适(P<0.007)。大多数患者愿意在舒适方面妥协，或者愿意重复使用一次性用品，为更可持续的医疗保健做出贡献。大多数患者（77％）敦促医疗机构应对气候变化。
结论：在舒适评分方面，对生物基塑料窥器的支持存在微小但统计学上显著的差异，尽管可能会质疑这是否与临床相关。此外，患者愿意在舒适方面妥协，以实现更可持续的医疗保健，这应该是窥器选择的一个促成因素。
