RESUMO
Objective: To identify factors, such as embarrassment, contributing to the psychological resistance of female patients to physical examination.Methods: Female outpatients were given questionnaires asking about their degree of embarrassment in four areas of physical examination, their tolerance for disrobing during chest examination, and examples of actual episodes of embarrassment experienced during Physical examination. Answers were analyzed statistically. Results: Patients were more embarrassed when examiners were men or were students. When a male student examiner examined the chest and abdomen, the younger the female patients were, the greater their embarrassment was. Conclusions: Male student examiners should be most careful during Physical examination not to embarrass female patients. Gowning may reduce their embarrassment.