Assessing sexual health behaviors of resident physicians and graduate students.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the sexual practices of 44 resident physicians with those of 88 nonmedical graduate students, including law students and master's-level social work students, by using the Safe Sex Behavioral Questionnaire (SSBQ).


METHODS
In a cross-sectional survey, the SSBQ, used to assess the sexual practices of these two groups, was distributed to participants at a state university via their campus mailboxes, along with a return address envelope, to help ensure anonymity.


RESULTS
The educational cohorts did not differ. Overall, participants reported engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors. Women with multiple partners were more likely to engage in increased risky behaviors, whereas men with multiple partners were more likely to use condoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians, although educated about healthy sexual behaviors, are still engaging in unsafe safe. The reasons for the discrepancy between knowledge and practice need to be explored.
Williams
John K
JK
Department of Psychiatry, University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, USA. KeoniWmd@aol.com
Goebert
Deborah
D
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires