EXPLORING CULTURAL IMPACTS ON PATIENT COMFORT IN OPPOSITE-GENDER ULTRASOUND EXAMINATIONS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS AMONG RADIOLOGY RESIDENTS AND PRACTITIONERS

Abstract

Objectives: To study how cultural beliefs and gender norms affect patient comfort in opposite-gender ultrasound examinations, this research sought to determine the most common cultural or religious issues that result in discomfort or refusal of examination, and finally, this study aimed at determining the availability and efficacy of institutional support mechanism (policies, training, and chaperone protocols) and the readiness of radiologists to address cultural sensitivities in opposite-gender ultrasound examinations.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was done between December 2024 and April 2025 in six government hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Eighty radiology residents and practitioners got a convenience sample and a validated questionnaire based on cross-cultural competence continuum, measuring cultural impacts, patient discomfort, and institutional support. IBM SPSS Statistics 25 was utilized in the analysis of data through descriptive statistics, chi-square tests (p < 0.05).

Results: Most of the participants encountered cultural effects on patient encounters, and the relationship between the perceived influence of either cultural/ gender norm on patient comfort level was significant (p = 0.017). Interestingly, 21.3 percent of the respondents who felt the cultural impact felt a little uncomfortable as opposed to 5 percent who felt not uncomfortable at all, 20 percent and 16.3 percent felt moderately and very uncomfortable respectively. The patient discomfort or refusal was mainly concerned with personal modesty (30.0%) and religious reasons (28.7%). The availability of institutional policy was substantially related to the preparedness of radiologists (p=0.002), in comparison with cultural sensitivity training (p=0.955) or chaperone protocols (p=0.378).

Conclusion: The cultural beliefs and gender norms play a significant role in affecting the opposite-gender ultrasound examinations patient comfort because of modesty and religious issues. Culturally sensitive care in Pakistan radiology environments can progress through mandatory chaperones, improved training, and institutionalized policies that are consistent with the existing inconsistent support.