Effects of hospital gowns on client outcomes

[marionravenwood.livejournal.com]

Hi, can anyone point me to studies on whether having clients wear hospital gowns has an effect on client outcomes, either medical or emotional?

My understanding is that in the US, clients are often given hospital gowns for medical appointments where they aren't strictly medically necessary, whereas in the UK and Austrailia they are much less likely to be used outside of surgery or medical imaging. (For example, in the US, clients are gowned for pap tests, but they rarely are in the UK--you could just wear a long, loose skirt. Clients are also routinely gowned for non-gyn physicals in the US, but there's not a lot of medical justification for that.) My gut feeling is that wearing gowns makes a significant portion of people (obviously not everyone) feel more disempowered and/or uncomfortable in a situation where they already feel vulnerable, but I haven't seen any formal studies confirming or denying this. I would love to read if wearing gowns increases clients perception of pain or discomfort, or makes people less likely to meet with heathcare providers. Conversely, if there are studies showing that clients who wear gowns have better medical outcomes than those who don't, I would like to see this too.

I have seen several posts in childbirth communities on how individuals felt better laboring in their own (comfortable, loose) clothes, but that's more anecdata.

Thanks.

BDSM and feminism

[thisis2012.livejournal.com]

Over the last year I have begun to come to terms with the submissive desires despite my ardent feminism.

Does anyone have any really good resources/blogs/books/articles about either feminist submissives or anything about how good men can like dominating and "degrading" women? I am heterosexual, so it is the gender politics matched with the desires that I want to learn more about.

Thanks!

Period heavy on day 6

[lb76696.livejournal.com]

I'm on the pill and my periods typically last 6-7 days with spotting starting on the fifth. Im on day 6 now and it's started up again as heavier red blood, like a day 3. Has this happened to anyone else? Scared it won't stop.

Quick Assist?

[kayeyem.livejournal.com]

Before I send my husband out for yogurt and/or some OTC cream...

What can I do for my kidlet?  She's just over 3 years old and just finished Augmentin for a borderline-pnemona chest cold.  My first reaction was to break out the Nystatin cream we have in the medicine cabinet from when she was still in diapers (over a year and a half ago) since the tube I kept has never been opened...but I don't know if it would help at all, or if I need to somehow treat the infection internally.

I've called the nurse line and am waiting for a call back, but the local big box store closes in fifteen minutes so I'm pretty much trying ALL avenues of assistance...

(She woke up and told me her vulva hurt, based on redness and discharge (and recent antibiotics) I am certain it's a yeasty beasty.)