Do callers to the NSW Sexual Health Infoline attend the services they are referred to?

Sexual Health ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margy Ewing ◽  
Phillip Read ◽  
Vickie Knight ◽  
Samantha Morgan ◽  
Mark Hanlon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Phone Call ◽  
Publicly Funded ◽  
Sexual Health Information ◽  
Referral Line ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽  
Transmissible Infection

BackgroundThe NSW Sexual Health Infoline (SHIL) is a free and confidential sexual health information and referral line. The ability of Australian sexual health helplines to facilitate successful referrals has not been studied. In the present study, we sought to determine whether callers were successful in accessing the publicly funded sexual health services (PFSHS) or general practitioners (GP) they were referred to. Methods: Callers to SHIL who were directly referred to a PFSHS or GP for HIV and/or sexually transmissible infection testing from 3 January to 31 March 2012 were offered a follow-up phone call 1 week later. Results: Of 474 eligible callers, 190 (40%) agreed to disclose a first name and contact details and to be contacted by a study nurse on an agreed-upon date. One hundred and twenty (63%) callers were successfully contacted 1 week later; of these, 85% had attended or had a future appointment booked for testing. Conclusions: We conclude that among the study sample that was successfully followed up, most callers to the SHIL had attended or booked appointments to the services they were referred to.

Advertising sexual health services that provide sexually transmissible infection screening for rural young people - what works and what doesn't

Sexual Health ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepa G. Gamage ◽  
Candice A. Fuller ◽  
Rosey Cummings ◽  
Jane E. Tomnay ◽  
Mark Chung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
What Works ◽  
Web Advertisement ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽  
Transmissible Infection

Background ‘TESTme’ is a sexually transmissible infection (STI) screening service for Victorian young people living in rural areas. We evaluated the effectiveness of advertising for this service over an 11-month pilot period. Methods: The advertising that was used included websites, a Facebook page, posters, flyers, business cards, wrist bands and professional development sessions for health nurses that occurred throughout the pilot period. We also used once-off methods including advertisements in newspapers, student diaries and short messages to mobile phones. Results: Twenty-eight clients had a consultation through TESTme. Twenty found the service through health professionals, six through the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) web page, one through the Facebook page and one through the student diary. The total direct costs incurred by the centre for advertising were $20 850. The advertising cost per client reached for each advertising method was $26 for health professionals, $80 for the MSHC web advertisement, $1408 for Facebook and $790 for the student diary. Other advertising methods cost $12 248 and did not attract any clients. Conclusion: Advertising STI health services for rural young people would be best to focus on referrals from other health services or health care websites.

Why not the GP? Client preferences for sexually transmissible infection testing in Western Sydney

Sexual Health ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Biggs ◽  
Jennifer Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Sti Testing ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Service Staff ◽  
The Future ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽  
Transmissible Infection

Background Publicly funded sexual health services (PFSHS) in NSW use triage to prioritise access for people at increased risk of infection and refer people at lower risk to General Practitioners (GPs). This study aimed to determine why people in Western Sydney attend a PFSHS in preference to their GP, whether they would be willing to see their GP for sexual health services and what factors were important when making this decision. Methods: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was used for this study. Results: In total, 228/249 (92%) of all respondents had visited a GP in the previous 12 months; 192/249 (77%) knew the GP could perform sexually transmissible infection testing (STI) testing; 124/249 (50%) had ever had a STI check with a GP and 101/249 (41%) were willing to attend a GP service for STI-related care in the future. Factors relating to the health service staff and client comfort emerged as strong reasons for choice of health service. One-third of non-priority clients (33%) were unwilling to see a GP for STI testing in the future. Respondents raised concerns regarding perceived issues with confidentiality and lack of confidence in the GP’s expertise in sexual health. Conclusions: The underlying factors relating to sexual health care with the GP, whether real or perceived, need to be addressed in order for PFSHS to successfully triage out attendees who are at a lower STI risk.

The “Be All and End All”? Young People, Online Sexual Health Information, Science and Skepticism

2021 ◽  
pp. 104973232110035
Author(s):  
Adrian Farrugia ◽  
Andrea Waling ◽  
Kiran Pienaar ◽  
Suzanne Fraser
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Sexual Practices ◽  
Sexual Health Information ◽  
Science Society ◽  
Online Sources

In this article, we investigate young people’s trust in online sexual health resources. Analyzing interviews with 37 young people in Australia using Irwin and Michael’s account of science–society relations and Warner’s conceptualization of “publics,” we explore the processes by which they assess the credibility of online sexual health information. We suggest that when seeking medical information, young people opt for traditionally authoritative online sources that purport to offer “facts.” By contrast, when seeking information about relationships or sexual practices, participants indicated a preference for websites presenting “experiences” rather than or as well as “facts.” Regardless of content, however, our participants approached online sexual health information skeptically and used various techniques to appraise its quality and trustworthiness. We argue that these young people are productively understood as a skeptical public of sexual health. We conclude by exploring the implications of our analysis for the provision of online sexual health information.

Sexual Experiences and Perspectives of Adolescents and Young Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

2021 ◽  
pp. 074355842110282
Author(s):  
Elizabeth K. Schmidt ◽  
Megan Dougherty ◽  
Natalie Robek ◽  
Lindy Weaver ◽  
Amy R. Darragh
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Sexual Education ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Sexual Experiences ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Sexual Health Information

The purpose of this study is to understand the sexual experiences and perspectives of adolescents and young adults (AYA) with intellectual or developmental disabilities, how they are receiving sexual education, and how sexual education can be tailored to their needs. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured focus groups and interviews with eight AYA with intellectual or developmental disabilities from January 14 to May 7, 2019. Data were analyzed using a constant comparative approach. Participants reported a diverse range of sexual experiences and an interest in marriage and parenting in the future. Two themes emerged for how AYA are learning about sexual health information: through formal (school, doctors’ visits, or from caregivers) and informal education (peers, siblings, self-exploration, or Pop Culture). Sexual education can be tailored to this population by addressing educational gaps (pregnancy, contraception, sexually transmitted infections, intimacy, and sexual activity) and by implementing specific participant recommendations (proactive, inclusive education with real-life examples). With a growing emphasis on disability rights to sexual education among individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, it is vital to understand AYA’s experiences, perspectives, and current understanding of sexual health information so that we can design a program specifically tailored to meet their unique needs.

‘Most young men think you have to be naked in front of the GP’: a qualitative study of male university students’ views on barriers to sexual health

Sexual Health ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron Ewert ◽  
Archibald Collyer ◽  
Meredith Temple-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Sexual Health Education ◽  
Sexual Health Care ◽  
Sexual Health Information ◽  
Male University Students

Background In Australia, 15- to 29-year-olds account for 75% of all sexually transmissible infection (STI) diagnoses. STI rates among young men are rising, with most diagnosed in general practice. Young men less frequently attend general practice than young women, and rarely present with sexual health issues, making it difficult for general practitioners (GPs) to offer opportunistic STI education and screening. Little is known of the barriers preventing male university students accessing general practice for sexual health care, or what would facilitate this. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with young men aged 18–24 years attending university between 2012 and 2014. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using content and thematic analysis. Results: Twenty-eight interviews of 26–50 min duration found self-imposed views of masculinity, privacy and embarrassment as key barriers to accessing GPs for sexual health care. This was compounded by poor STI knowledge and not knowing when or where to go for care. Participants, except if they were international students, acknowledged school as an important source of sexual health education. The need for sexual health education at university was identified. While the Internet was a popular source, there were mixed views on the benefits of social media and text messaging for sexual health promotion. Conclusions: Current expectations of young male university students to seek sexual health care or acquire sexual health information from medical care may be misplaced. Universities have an excellent opportunity to provide young men with appropriate sexual health information and could offer novel strategies to help young men look after their sexual health.

Making epistemic citizens: Young people and the search for reliable and credible sexual health information

2021 ◽  
Vol 276 ◽  
pp. 113817
Author(s):  
Suzanne Fraser ◽  
David Moore ◽  
Andrea Waling ◽  
Adrian Farrugia
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Sexual Health Information

How Does the Internet Fill the Sexual Health Information Gap for Teens?

2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. S9-S10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel K. Jones ◽  
Ann E. Biddlecom ◽  
Ruth M. Milne
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Sexual Health Information ◽  
Information Gap
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document