THE EFFECT OF INTIMACY AND SPIRITUALITY ON WOMEN'S DOCTOR PREFERENCES IN GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS EXAMINATIONS

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 3, 212 - 226, 24.10.2025

Eda Yakıt Ak , Özden Tandoğan , Mehmet Ali Şen

https://doi.org/10.33457/ijhsrp.1782759

Abstract

This study aimed to address the factors affecting Turkish women's doctor preferences in gynecology and obstetrics examinations. This descriptive and cross-sectional survey study was completed with a total of 572 women aged 18 years and older. Data were collected using the Descriptive Information Form, the Body Intimacy in Gynecology and Obstetrics Scale (BIGOS), and the Spirituality Scale (SS). The proportion of women who had previously had a gynecology and obstetrics examination with a female doctor was 50.7%, and the proportion of women who would prefer a female doctor for future examinations was 53.0%. It was determined that those who had ever been examined by a female doctor and those who would prefer a female doctor scored higher on both the spirituality and privacy scales than those who preferred a male doctor (p<0.05). Among the women, 51.6% stated that they preferred a female physician because of comfort, 28.14% because of privacy, 25.0% because of embarrassment, and 18.0% because of their faith. Logistic regression revealed that not having a previous women's health examination, low scores on the SS, and high scores on the BIGOS were effective in preferring a male physician (p<0.05). The results showed that women who reported higher levels of comfort, privacy, and spirituality were more likely to prefer female doctors. It is important to consider women’s cultural and spiritual values in the delivery of healthcare services, as these factors are statistically associated with preferences and perceptions observed in this study; however, no causal relationship can be inferred due to the study’s correlational design.

Keywords

Woman , doctor , examination , spirituality , intimacy

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for the study was obtained from Dicle University [Date: 25.10.2024 / Number: E-14679147-663.05-800554]. The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The purpose of the study was explained in writing to the women participating in the study before they took part in the online survey, and a declaration of participation was obtained.

References

• Topatan, S., "Jinekoloji ve obstetri polikliniğine başvuran kadınlarda beden mahremiyeti", ACU Sağlık Bil Dergisi, 11(3), 471–477, 2020.
• Yilmaz, F. T., & Demirel, G., "The relationship between body privacy and anxiety in women having gynecological examination", Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 41(7), 1112–1115, 2021.
• McLean, M., Al Yahyaei, F., Al Mansoori, M., Al Ameri, M., Al Ahbabi, S. & Bernsen, R., "Muslim women's physician preference: beyond obstetrics and gynecology", Health Care for Women International, 33(9), 849–876, 2012.
• AlSamhori, J. F., Rayyan, R., Hammouri, M., Taha, H., Al-Huneidy, L., AlOweiwi, W., AlMohtasib, J., Mansour, S., Dardas, M., Qiqieh, J., Halasa, Z., Al-Huneidy, Y. & Al-Ani, A., "Factors influencing gender preference towards surgeons among Jordanian adults: an investigation of healthcare bias", Scientific Reports, 13(1), 11614, 2023.
• Kassouf, S., Nassar, E., Cherri, H., Mortada, S., Eid, K., Khalife, L., Daccache, A. & Abi-Gerges, A., "Exploring gender disparity in medicine: perceptions of female physicians in Lebanon", BMC Medical Education, 24(1), 1192, 2024.
• Zigdon, A., Koren, G. & Korn, L., "Characteristics related to choice of obstetrician-gynecologist among women of Ethiopian descent in Israel", Healthcare (Basel), 8(4), 444, 2020.
• Supreme Council of Religious Affairs, "Is it permissible to have a gynaecological examination by a male doctor?", Kurul Diyanet web sitesi, 2022.
• Ramondetta, L., Brown, A., Richardson, G., Urbauer, D., Thaker, P. H., Koenig, H. G., Gano, J. B. & Sun, C., "Religious and spiritual beliefs of gynecologic oncologists may influence medical decision making", International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 21(3), 573–581, 2011.
• López-Tarrida, Á. D. C., de Diego-Cordero, R. & Lima-Rodríguez, J. S., "Spirituality in a doctor's practice: what are the issues?", Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(23), 5612, 2021.
• Gümüş, M. & Aksu, H., "Factors affecting anxiety levels of women before gynecological examination", Journal of Women’s Health Nursing, 26(2), 145–153, 2020.
• Özkan, E., Çelik, N. & Kaya, D., "The effect of embarrassment and privacy concerns on gynecological examination anxiety among women", European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 263, 110–117, 2021.
• Thompson, J. & Chadha, P., "Understanding women’s emotional responses to intimate medical examinations", Patient Education and Counseling, 102(8), 1505–1511, 2019.
• Sakhaei, S., Motaarefi, H., Zeynali, E., Momeni, M., & Sadagheyani, H.E. "Relationship between spiritual attitude and protecting patient privacy in nursing students in Khoy", Health, Spirituality and Medical Ethics, 7(4), 33-40, 2020.
• Değirmen, N. & Şaylıgil, Ö., "Body privacy in gynecology obstetric", Acta Bioethica, 26(2), 225–235, 2020.
• Demirci, İ. & Ekşi, H., "Keep calm and be happy: A mixed method study from character strengths to well-being", Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 18(29), 303–354, 2018.
• Duran, S. & Can Öz, Y., "The association between spirituality and hope among Turkish women undergoing infertility treatment", Journal of Religion and Health, 62(2), 764–777, 2023.
• Laschke, A., Blaakær, J., Jensen, C. F. & Larsen, M. B., "Danish women's preferences regarding gynecological examination support international recommendations: a cross-sectional study", International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 162(3), 1068–1076, 2023.
• Karaküçük, S. & Sönmez, M., "Jinekoloji ve obstetride hastaların hekim cinsiyeti tercihleri ve etkileyen faktörler", Sağlık ve Sosyal Refah Araştırmaları Dergisi, 4(1), 12–22, 2022.
• Kabakian-Khasholian, T., Makhoul, J. & Ghusayni, A., "“A person who does not have money does not enter”: a qualitative study on refugee women’s experiences of respectful maternity care", BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 22(1), 748, 2022.
• Bay, H. & Akin, B., "Privacy, self-esteem and anxiety in women having pelvic examination", Clinical Nursing Research, 31(7), 1376–1383, 2022.
• Nasution, L. A. & Afiyanti, Y., "Spiritual based intervention effect on the psychological aspect of patients with gynaecologic and breast cancer: a systematic review", Enfermería Clínica, 31, 90–95, 2021.
• Çelikadam, C., Balım, S., Aktaş, B., Aykaç, B., Karasu, M. & Cesur, S., "Çocukların gözünden ayıp kavramsallaştırmasının ve ilgili ahlaki duyguların sosyal alan kuramı çerçevesinde incelenmesi", Nesne, 11(27), 117–138, 2023.
• O'Laughlin, D. J., Strelow, B., Fellows, N., Kelsey, E., Peters, S., Stevens, J. & Tweedy, J., "Addressing anxiety and fear during the female pelvic examination", Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 12, 2150132721992195, 2021.
• Kocabaş, P. & Khorshid, L., "A comparison of the effects of a special gynaecological garment and music in reducing the anxiety related to gynaecological examination", Journal of Clinical Nursing, 21(5–6), 791–799, 2012.
• Govender, V. & Penn-Kekana, L., "Gender biases and discrimination: a review of health care interpersonal interactions", Global Public Health, 3(1), 90–103, 2008.
• Rahman, M. M., "A psychosocial comparative analysis of woman in Islam and woman in feminism", Social Sciences, 12(6), 312–325, 2023.
• Rathee, R. & Rajain, P., "Workplace spirituality: a comparative study of various models", Jindal Journal of Business Research, 9(1), 27–40, 2020.
• Puchalski, C., Ferrell, B., Virani, R., Otis-Green, S., Baird, P., Bull, J. & Sulmasy, D., "Improving the quality of spiritual care as a dimension of palliative care: the report of the Consensus Conference", Journal of Palliative Medicine, 12(10), 885–904, 2009.
• Koenig, H. G., "Religion, spirituality, and health: The research and clinical implications", International Scholarly Research Notices, 2012(1), 278730, 2012.