Sexual health risk assessment and counseling in primary care: how involved are general practitioners and obstetrician-gynecologists?
OBJECTIVE
This study examined physicians' evaluation of sexual health risks during a general medical examination and sexually transmitted disease (STD) counseling during consultations for adolescent contraception and treatment of an STD.


METHODS
An anonymous mail survey was conducted in 1995 with a stratified random sample of 1086 general practitioners and all 241 obstetrician-gynecologists practicing in Quebec, Canada.


RESULTS
Fewer than half of the respondents reported routinely inquiring about condom use and number of sexual partners during a general medical examination. Female general practitioners engaged in more sexual health risk assessment and counseling than male general practitioners.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests a low level of involvement in STD prevention by generalists and obstetrician-gynecologists.
Haley
N
N
Department of Pediatrics, Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
Maheux
B
B
Rivard
M
M
Gervais
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods*; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000379:methods*; D010819:Physician's Role; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011792:Quebec; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires