TY - JOUR
T1 - Sexual health counselling by Dutch HIV care providers: A cross-sectional survey among physicians and nurses in the Netherlands
AU - Munnik, Suzanne de
AU - Vervoort, Sigrid C.J.M.
AU - Kraan, Liza
AU - Ammerlaan, Heidi S.M.
AU - Grondhuis Palacio, Lorena A.
AU - Kok, Gerjo
AU - Elzevier, Henk W.
AU - de Wit, John
AU - Daas, Chantal den
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2022/6
Y1 - 2022/6
N2 - To improve sexual health among people living with HIV, sexual health should be addressed duringconsultations in routine HIV care. The aim of the present study was to investigate to what extentSexual Health Counselling (SHC) is incorporated into routine Dutch HIV care and to exploredifferences between physicians and nurses in their practices and views regarding SHC. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among all HIV physicians (N=110) and HIV nurses (N=82) in theNetherlands. A questionnaire assessed socio-demographic characteristics, current SHC practice,topics addressed, and factors associated with engaging in SHC. The response rate was 53.6%(N=59) among physicians and 60.0% (N=40) among nurses. SHC was performed by 26.1% ofphysicians and 83.9% of nurses (Χ² (1) = 27.68,p<.001). The most frequently reported barrier forSHC was the presence of a third party, endorsed by 50.9% of physicians and 60.4% of nurses.Nurses were more likely to address issues related to sexual wellbeing, while physicians mainlydiscussed medical topics. While, both HIV physicians and nursed felt responsible for providingSHC, nurses were more likely to address SHC that physicians. There is scope for improving SHCfor PLHIV through a multidisciplinary approach based on clear guidelines for physicians and nurses.
AB - To improve sexual health among people living with HIV, sexual health should be addressed duringconsultations in routine HIV care. The aim of the present study was to investigate to what extentSexual Health Counselling (SHC) is incorporated into routine Dutch HIV care and to exploredifferences between physicians and nurses in their practices and views regarding SHC. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among all HIV physicians (N=110) and HIV nurses (N=82) in theNetherlands. A questionnaire assessed socio-demographic characteristics, current SHC practice,topics addressed, and factors associated with engaging in SHC. The response rate was 53.6%(N=59) among physicians and 60.0% (N=40) among nurses. SHC was performed by 26.1% ofphysicians and 83.9% of nurses (Χ² (1) = 27.68,p<.001). The most frequently reported barrier forSHC was the presence of a third party, endorsed by 50.9% of physicians and 60.4% of nurses.Nurses were more likely to address issues related to sexual wellbeing, while physicians mainlydiscussed medical topics. While, both HIV physicians and nursed felt responsible for providingSHC, nurses were more likely to address SHC that physicians. There is scope for improving SHCfor PLHIV through a multidisciplinary approach based on clear guidelines for physicians and nurses.
KW - healthcare providers
KW - patient provider interaction
KW - People living with HIV
KW - sexual health counselling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103425362&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09540121.2021.1906400
DO - 10.1080/09540121.2021.1906400
M3 - Article
C2 - 33779419
AN - SCOPUS:85103425362
SN - 0954-0121
VL - 34
SP - 734
EP - 740
JO - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
JF - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
IS - 6
ER -