title: 'Talking of Sex': developing and piloting a sexual health communication tool for use in primary care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and pilot a communication aid aimed at increasing the frequency with which sexual health issues are raised proactively with young people in primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group interviews among primary health care professionals to guide development of the tool, simulated consultations to pre-test it, and a pilot study to assess effectiveness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We developed an electronic consultation aid: Talking of Sex and piloted it in eight general practices across the UK. 188 patients and 58 practitioners completed questionnaires pre-intervention, and 92 patients and 45 practitioners post-intervention. There was a modest increase in the proportion of consultations in which sexual health was raised, from 28.1% pre-intervention to 32.6% post-intervention. In consultations with nurses the rise was more marked. More patients reported discussing preventive practices such as condom use post-intervention. Patients unanimously welcomed the opportunity to discuss sexual health matters with their practitioner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The tool has capacity to increase the frequency with which sexual health is raised in primary care, particularly by nurses, to influence the topics discussed, and to improve patient satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The tool has potential in increasing the proportion of young people whose sexual health needs are addressed in general practice.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sexual and Reproductive Health Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. wendy.macdowall@lshtm.ac.uk
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Macdowall
authors.forename: Rachael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Kiran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nanchahal
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lowbury
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sherrard
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Nicky
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fasey
authors.forename: Kaye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wellings
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D058015:Health Communication; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019529:Sexuality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult