Medical Embarrassment Questionnaire – MEQ

Showing my body to a stranger, even to a doctor, is humiliating

I am uncomfortable when a doctor has to examine my sexual organs or rectum because I worry about my own cleanliness

I feel shy when I have to describe my bodily functions to a doctor or a nurse

If I get sick I tend to hide from others, even from close people, because I am embarrassed to be sick or ill

I worry that my body looks unpleasant and will disgust the doctor or a nurse during a check-up

Walking in the waiting area with a urine sample is humiliating

When I have health symptoms, I avoid the doctor because I worry that my concerns will turn out to be nothing

I feel embarrassed when doctors use complicated medical words and I don’t understand them

I am afraid that I will embarrass myself if something hurts in the doctor’s office

I worry that doctors will scold me for the bad state of my health

It is embarrassing for me when a doctor or a nurse has to touch me

Having my sexual/reproductive organs or rectum examined is humiliating for me

Describing my bowel movements to a doctor is awkward for me

I feel I must have done something wrong when I am ill

It is embarrassing for me when a doctor examines my body

I find waiting for treatment in a public area embarrassing

Minor pains, aches, or discomforts are not a good enough reason to go bothering a doctor

When a doctor describes some medical options and I don’t understand, I feel humiliated

It is embarrassing for me to admit that I fear pain

I avoid going to the doctor because I often wait too long and feel awkward knowing that I should have gone sooner

I am generally comfortable showing my body to a doctor

Having my breasts/vagina (F) or penis (M) examined by a medical professional does not bother me

Talking with a doctor about how frequently I use the bathroom and the nature of my faeces or stool is difficult for me

Talking about illness or being sick is not a problem for me

Seeing my body during medical examinations makes me feel silly

I worry about what other people in the waiting room may think of me

Even a minor symptom makes me feel that I should go to a doctor because I think that it could be a sign of something serious

I would never disobey a doctor’s recommendation just because the procedure is possibly painful

I am embarrassed about the condition that I have let my body get to

Being naked in front of the doctor or a nurse is embarrassing

It is embarrassing for me when a doctor who is not of my sex touches my sexual/reproductive organs during examination

Describing the colour or consistency of my stool to a doctor is exceptionally embarrassing for me

I feel self-conscious when others know that I am in poor health

I do not find it embarrassing to see acquaintances and friends in the doctor’s office

I only go to the doctor when I am very sick, because I worry that they will think I am faking it

I find it difficult to ask a doctor to explain something again, repeat themselves, or use words that I can understand

I am very comfortable telling a doctor that something hurts

I am comfortable when a doctor tells me that I am not looking after myself

Exposing just about any part of my body for a check up is awkward

I feel degraded when I have to show my sexual and reproductive organs or rectum to a doctor

The thought that a doctor might ask for stool or urine samples is humiliating for me

I worry that other people will judge me when I’m sick

I feel self-conscious and fear that other people may overhear discussions about my health

I feel shy showing my body to doctors

It is awkward for me to describe medical symptoms when they involve my private parts

I don’t want a doctor or nurse to think that I am one of those people who constantly complain about their health

I feel stupid when a doctor tells me that my symptoms are not as serious as I thought they were

I worry that the doctor is going to criticize some of the unhealthy things that I do

Having my body touched during medical check ups is not a problem for me

I worry about what doctors are thinking when they examine my genitals

Answering questions about my bodily fluids (e.g. describing the colour of my mucus) makes me self-conscious

I worry that doctors will think I’m silly if I come in with a minor complaint

I fear that the doctor will think badly of me because my own behaviours probably contributed to my health problems