Karen Biggs1, Jennifer Walsh1. 1. Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre, 162 Marsden Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia.
Abstract
UNLABELLED: 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.
UNLABELLED: 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.
Authors: Denise E Twisk; Bram Meima; Daan Nieboer; Jan Hendrik Richardus; Hannelore M Götz Journal: Eur J Public Health Date: 2021-12-01 Impact factor: 3.367