[Disturbances in sexual function: analysis of conditioning factors of an effective health care center].
BACKGROUND
With the aim of promoting activities related with sexual problems of the population in the health care area of the province of Alicante (Spain), the following objectives were set to the teams of primary health care: to know the opinion of the professionals concerning the most frequent reasons for consultation related with sexuality, establish opinions on their knowledge and educational requirements in this area, decrease sexual myths, strengthen the habit of registration of information on sexual behavior and problems related with the sexuality of the users and increase the frequency of derivating these problems to specialists.


METHODS
Information was collected with a self applied survey on variables related with the above objectives. Four seminars were then developed on human sexual response, sexologic interview, sexual dysfunction and sexual therapy from the results obtained. One year thereafter, an evaluation was carried out in which the initial survey was reapplied.


RESULTS
Fifty-eight percent of the 77 primary care professionals responded to the survey adequately in the initial phase. In their opinion the first three causes for consultation are impotence (13%), dispareunia (12%) and sexual disturbances related with chronic diseases (11%). The perception of their knowledge concerning the subjects covered in the seminars was slight with training in this area being clearly required. Eighty-nine percent were in favor of the collection of information on sexuality in health care files in contrast to 20% who reported to do so. From the initial to the final evaluation a decrease was seen in the direct intervention of the primary health care teams and an increase in derivations to specialists, which was of interest since around 20% of the professionals have erroneous beliefs on sexuality, varying according to the professions.


CONCLUSIONS
The low level of knowledge and abilities perceived, the need for education, possession of the erroneous beliefs of the health care professionals surveyed and the passive behavior but positive attitude towards the sexual problems of the population reconfirm the importance of adequate continued training to health care professionals, particularly to those of primary health care since they are the ideal suppliers of assistance to sexual problems.
Van-der-Hofstadt
C J
CJ
Unidad de Salud Mental Area 23, Servicio Valenciano de la Salud, Alicante.
Ruiz
M T
MT
D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D013030:Spain
Alteraciones de la función sexual: análisis de factores condicionantes de una atención sanitaria efectiva.