Acceptability of clinics for sexually transmitted diseases among users of the "gay scene" in the West Midlands.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the acceptability of genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics (for STDs) to homosexual and bisexual men.


METHODS
A cross sectional survey of men using "gay" venues and groups in the West Midlands region of the UK. Data were collected using an anonymous self-completed questionnaire.


RESULTS
848 completed questionnaires were returned. Two thirds of the respondents reported "safer" sexual behaviour. Those who had ever attended a GUM clinic (55%) differed little in their safer sexual behaviour from those who had never attended. The acceptability of the service was assessed using a range of indicators: the majority of the attendees had told a doctor, nurse or health adviser they have sex with men; and just over half had found all staff to be friendly, helpful or not homophobic. A quarter of attendees found talking about sexual matters difficult; these were less likely to have found the service acceptable. Over half (54%) of the study respondents had not been vaccinated against hepatitis B. Those who had been vaccinated were more likely: to have found the service acceptable; to have found talking about sexual matters easy; and to report safer sexual behaviour.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that many homosexual and bisexual men who may need to use the GUM service have not done so. There is a need to improve the acceptability of the service and to further promote hepatitis B vaccination.
Hope
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VD
Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK.
MacArthur
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C
D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines