Clinical Decision Making: A Cross‐Sectional Survey (2011)
This study is a Descriptive research regarding IV FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): Welmoed Reitsma, Marian J.E. Mourits, Merel Koning, Astrid Pascal, Berend van der Lei
FGM/C Type(s): IV
Health area of focus: None.
Objective: To assess the influencing factor of personal predisposition in general practitioners,gynecologists,and plastic surgeons to labia minora appearance in relation to their willingness to refer for,or perform,a surgical labia minora reduction
Study Population: Physicians(Primary care: general practitioners and Secondary care: gynecologists and plastic surgeons)
Findings: A total of 164/210 (78.1%) physicians completed the questionnaire,consisting of 80 general practitioners,41 gynecologists,and 43 plastic surgeons (96 males,68 females). Ninety percent of all physicians believed,to a certain extent,that a vulva with very small labia minora represented society’s ideal (2–5 on the Likert scale). More plastic surgeons regarded the picture with the largest labia minora as distasteful and unnatural,compared with general practitioners and gynecologists (P < 0.01),and regarded such a woman as a candidate for a labia minora reduction procedure (P < 0.001). Irrespective of the woman's labia minora size and the absence of physical complaints,plastic surgeons were significantly more open to performing a labia minora reduction procedure than gynecologists (P < 0.001). Male physicians were more inclined to opt for a surgical reduction procedure than their female colleagues (P < 0.01). The study concluded that personal predisposition of physicians (taking account of their specific gender and specialty) concerning labia minora size and appearance influenced their clinical decision making regarding a labia minora reduction procedure. Heightened awareness of one's personal predisposition vis à vis referral and willingness to operate was needed
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Western Europe
Country(ies):Netherlands