The purpose of this study is to determine if lubricating gel affects patients' perception of discomfort during speculum insertion, as compared to water.
The outcome measure is patient discomfort as measured by a visual analogue scale.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
120
Examiner will use 0.5 mL of sterile lubricating gel to lubricate standard-sized plastic speculum during clinically indicated vaginal speculum examination. Patients will mark visual analog scale immediately following insertion.
Patients will under vaginal speculum examination using 3 mL of water as a lubricant and will mark a visual analog scale immediately after speculum insertion.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Florida Hospital
Orlando, Florida, United States
Patient Discomfort During Speculum Insertion as Measured by a Visual Analog Scale.
The outcome measure is a single measurement of pain using a 10-point visual analog scale entitled "Visual Pain Scale" immediately following speculum insertion. The scale is a continuous 10cm line with the minimum value of 0 (labeled "no pain") on the left side of the line, and a maximum value of 10 (labeled "worst pain") on the right side of the line. Higher scores represent more pain and a worse outcome. There are no additional measurements obtained, and patients will not be followed for study purposes thereafter.
Time frame: Immediate.
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