1. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends providing chaperones during sensitive physical examinations of children and adolescents.
2. Chaperones aim to enhance patient comfort, maintain professional boundaries, and reduce misunderstandings.
3. Physicians should engage in shared decision-making and document the chaperone's role.
4. Patient preferences, vulnerable populations, and strategies for implementing chaperone use are addressed.
5. Research shows that many adolescents and caregivers prefer a parent as a chaperone for sensitive exams.
6. Special considerations apply to vulnerable populations, including youth in foster care and patients with developmental disabilities.
7. For telemedicine visits, remote chaperones or session recordings are recommended.
8. Strategies for integrating chaperone use in clinical practice are encouraged.

Source: Pediatrics