title: Acceptability of clinics for sexually transmitted diseases among users of the "gay scene" in the West Midlands.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK.
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Hope
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: MacArthur
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines