Sofia Hammarström1,2, Per Nilsen1, Malin Lindroth3,4, Karin Stenqvist2,5, Susanne Bernhardsson6,7. 1. a Department of Medical and Health Science, Division of Community Medicine , Linköping University , Linköping , Sweden. 2. b Närhälsan Knowledge Center for Sexual Health , Gothenburg , Sweden. 3. c Department of Nursing Sciences, School of Health and Welfare , Jönköping University , Jönköping , Sweden. 4. d Faculty of Health and Society , Centre for Sexology and Sexuality Studies, Malmö University , Malmö , Sweden. 5. e Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Section for Epidemiology and Social Medicine , Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden. 6. f Närhälsan Research and Development Primary Health Care , Gothenburg , Sweden. 7. g Department of Health and Rehabilitation, Unit of Physiotherapy , Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We aimed to develop and pilot-implement an evidence-informed toolkit (SEXual health Identification Tool; SEXIT) for identifying young people exposed to or at risk of sexual ill health, at Swedish youth clinics, and to investigate SEXIT's potential to identify young people in need of special care and monitoring. METHODS: The SEXIT toolkit was developed, validated and pilot-implemented at three Swedish youth clinics. Pre-implementation staff readiness was assessed and youth clinic visitors' responses to SEXIT were analysed. RESULTS: All staff perceived a need for screening for sexual risk-taking and exposure. The response rate from 268 youth clinic visitors (aged 15-24 years) was 86%. Half of the visitors had one or no variable associated with sexual ill health, a third had two or three, and 15% reported between four and seven variables. The most common variables were alcohol use, three or more sexual partners in the past year and previous chlamydia. Visitors rated SEXIT as important and not uncomfortable or difficult to answer. CONCLUSIONS: The SEXIT toolkit was found to be feasible and highly acceptable in a clinical setting. The use of SEXIT may facilitate important questions on sexual risk-taking and sexual ill health to be raised with youth clinic visitors.
OBJECTIVES: We aimed to develop and pilot-implement an evidence-informed toolkit (SEXual health Identification Tool; SEXIT) for identifying young people exposed to or at risk of sexual ill health, at Swedish youth clinics, and to investigate SEXIT's potential to identify young people in need of special care and monitoring. METHODS: The SEXIT toolkit was developed, validated and pilot-implemented at three Swedish youth clinics. Pre-implementation staff readiness was assessed and youth clinic visitors' responses to SEXIT were analysed. RESULTS: All staff perceived a need for screening for sexual risk-taking and exposure. The response rate from 268 youth clinic visitors (aged 15-24 years) was 86%. Half of the visitors had one or no variable associated with sexual ill health, a third had two or three, and 15% reported between four and seven variables. The most common variables were alcohol use, three or more sexual partners in the past year and previous chlamydia. Visitors rated SEXIT as important and not uncomfortable or difficult to answer. CONCLUSIONS: The SEXIT toolkit was found to be feasible and highly acceptable in a clinical setting. The use of SEXIT may facilitate important questions on sexual risk-taking and sexual ill health to be raised with youth clinic visitors.
Entities:
Keywords:
Adolescents; implementation; risk assessment; sexual behaviour; sexual violence; young adults; youth clinic