TY - JOUR
T1 - Sexual history taking and sexually transmissible infection screening practices among men who have sex with men
T2 - A survey of Victorian general practitioners
AU - Barber, Bridget
AU - Hellard, Margaret
AU - Jenkinson, Rebecca
AU - Spelman, Tim
AU - Stoove, Mark
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Background: HIV notifications among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Victoria, Australia, have increased recently. Early HIV diagnosis is a prevention strategy that requires general practitioners (GP) to recognise at-risk individuals and perform screening. Sexual history taking is part of this process. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 354 Victorian GP to investigate attitudes and practices regarding sexual history taking and screening for HIV in MSM. Results: In total, 185 (53%, 95% CI: 47-58%) GPs reported being 'very likely' to take a sexual history from MSM presenting for a routine check-up; however 161 (46%, 95% CI: 40-51%) would not do so during the initial consultation. Barriers to sexual history taking included time constraints (28%, 95% CI: 24-36%), feeling inadequately trained (25%, 95% CI: 21-30%), discomfort discussing sex (24%, 95% CI: 20-29%) and fear of patient embarrassment (24%, 95% CI: 20-29%). Factors associated with a reduced likelihood included being male, time constraints, fear of patient embarrassment, and moral or religious views. Most GP (63%, 95% CI: 58-68%) reported they would offer HIV screening 3-6 monthly for MSM with casual partners; 54 (16%, 95% CI: 12-20%) would offer screening only on request. Being unlikely to take a sexual history and fear of patient embarrassment were associated with a decreased likelihood of offering an HIV test. Conclusion: GP often fail to take a sexual history from MSM, limiting opportunities to offer HIV screening. Strategies are required to increase GPs' awareness of sexual health as a priority for MSM.
AB - Background: HIV notifications among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Victoria, Australia, have increased recently. Early HIV diagnosis is a prevention strategy that requires general practitioners (GP) to recognise at-risk individuals and perform screening. Sexual history taking is part of this process. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 354 Victorian GP to investigate attitudes and practices regarding sexual history taking and screening for HIV in MSM. Results: In total, 185 (53%, 95% CI: 47-58%) GPs reported being 'very likely' to take a sexual history from MSM presenting for a routine check-up; however 161 (46%, 95% CI: 40-51%) would not do so during the initial consultation. Barriers to sexual history taking included time constraints (28%, 95% CI: 24-36%), feeling inadequately trained (25%, 95% CI: 21-30%), discomfort discussing sex (24%, 95% CI: 20-29%) and fear of patient embarrassment (24%, 95% CI: 20-29%). Factors associated with a reduced likelihood included being male, time constraints, fear of patient embarrassment, and moral or religious views. Most GP (63%, 95% CI: 58-68%) reported they would offer HIV screening 3-6 monthly for MSM with casual partners; 54 (16%, 95% CI: 12-20%) would offer screening only on request. Being unlikely to take a sexual history and fear of patient embarrassment were associated with a decreased likelihood of offering an HIV test. Conclusion: GP often fail to take a sexual history from MSM, limiting opportunities to offer HIV screening. Strategies are required to increase GPs' awareness of sexual health as a priority for MSM.
KW - Australia
KW - barriers
KW - HIV
KW - testing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84860393689&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1071/SH10079
DO - 10.1071/SH10079
M3 - Article
C2 - 21851775
AN - SCOPUS:84860393689
VL - 8
SP - 349
EP - 354
JO - Sexual Health
JF - Sexual Health
SN - 1448-5028
IS - 3
ER -