Communication, privacy and interpersonal care in non-obstetric gynaecological examinations: a scoping review
- 1Lianyungang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Lianyungang, China
Abstract
Background: Non-obstetric gynaecological examinations are common but sensitive clinical encounters in which communication, privacy, bodily exposure, perceived control, and interpersonal conduct may shape women's experiences and engagement with care. Evidence across different examination contexts remains dispersed and unintegrated.
Objective: To map communication, privacy, and interpersonal care processes reported in relation to women's experiences of non-obstetric gynaecological examinations, examine how these processes are distributed across stages of the encounter, and identify gaps in the evidence.
Methods: Seven electronic databases were searched from inception to 4 September 2026, supplemented by the CNKI Dissertations Database and reference-list screening. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods primary studies were eligible. Two reviewers independently screened records and extracted data. Findings were synthesised narratively and mapped onto the pre-, intra- and post-examination phases of the encounter. The review was prospectively registered on the Open Science Framework and reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR.
Results: Twenty-eight studies from 11 countries were included, comprising 20 quantitative and eight qualitative studies. Pre-examination evidence focused on prior knowledge, procedural information, expectations, communication accessibility, and preparation. Intra-examination prominent care processes included privacy protection, management of bodily exposure, explanation, permission, perceived control, clinician conduct, clinician gender, and chaperone or companion preferences. Immediate responses included embarrassment, anxiety, fear, pain, discomfort, stress, and perceived vulnerability. Evidence concerning disclosure, willingness to return, follow-up, delayed attendance, and avoidance was comparatively sparse and heterogeneous. Across studies, preferences regarding clinician gender, chaperones, companions, and participation varied between women and settings.
Conclusion: Women's experiences of gynaecological examinations extend beyond technical performance to the organisation and interpersonal conduct of the whole care encounter. Preparation, privacy protection, responsive communication, recognition of discomfort, and respect for individual preferences represent potentially modifiable components of gynaecological and interdisciplinary practice. Prospective and intervention research is needed to clarify how these processes influence subsequent care engagement.
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BibTeX
@article{yan2026communication,
title = {{Communication, privacy and interpersonal care in non-obstetric gynaecological examinations: a scoping review}},
author = {Xiaoting Yan and Yue Zhang and Yunhuan Sun and Tingting Cao and Han Xu},
journal = {Frontiers in Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fmed.2026.1992943},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1992943},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Communication, privacy and interpersonal care in non-obstetric gynaecological examinations: a scoping review
AU - Xiaoting Yan
AU - Yue Zhang
AU - Yunhuan Sun
AU - Tingting Cao
AU - Han Xu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
JO - Frontiers in Medicine
DO - 10.3389/fmed.2026.1992943
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1992943
AB - Background: Non-obstetric gynaecological examinations are common but sensitive clinical encounters in which communication, privacy, bodily exposure, perceived control, and interpersonal conduct may shape women's experiences and engagement with care. Evidence across different examination contexts remains dispersed and unintegrated. Objective: To map communication, privacy, and interpersonal care processes reported in relation to women's experiences of non-obstetric gynaecological examinations, examine how these processes are distributed across stages of the encounter, and identify gaps in the evidence. Methods: Seven electronic databases were searched from inception to 4 September 2026, supplemented by the CNKI Dissertations Database and reference-list screening. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods primary studies were eligible. Two reviewers independently screened records and extracted data. Findings were synthesised narratively and mapped onto the pre-, intra- and post-examination phases of the encounter. The review was prospectively registered on the Open Science Framework and reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR. Results: Twenty-eight studies from 11 countries were included, comprising 20 quantitative and eight qualitative studies. Pre-examination evidence focused on prior knowledge, procedural information, expectations, communication accessibility, and preparation. Intra-examination prominent care processes included privacy protection, management of bodily exposure, explanation, permission, perceived control, clinician conduct, clinician gender, and chaperone or companion preferences. Immediate responses included embarrassment, anxiety, fear, pain, discomfort, stress, and perceived vulnerability. Evidence concerning disclosure, willingness to return, follow-up, delayed attendance, and avoidance was comparatively sparse and heterogeneous. Across studies, preferences regarding clinician gender, chaperones, companions, and participation varied between women and settings. Conclusion: Women's experiences of gynaecological examinations extend beyond technical performance to the organisation and interpersonal conduct of the whole care encounter. Preparation, privacy protection, responsive communication, recognition of discomfort, and respect for individual preferences represent potentially modifiable components of gynaecological and interdisciplinary practice. Prospective and intervention research is needed to clarify how these processes influence subsequent care engagement.
SN - 2296-858X
ER -