Document 0629
 DOCN  M95A0629
 TI    Communication between adolescents and doctors about sexual behavior and
       risk prevention. American Pediatric Society 104th annual meeting and
       Society for Pediatric Research 63rd annual meeting; 1994 May 2-5;
       Seattle.
 DT    9510
 AU    Schuster MA; Bell R; Petersen L; Kanouse D; RAND, Santa Monica, CA, USA.
 SO    Pediatr AIDS HIV Infect. 1994 Oct;5(5):317 (unnumbered abstract). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE AIDS/95330415
 AB    The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that physicians take a
       sexual history, discuss risk prevention, and assure confidentiality with
       all patients in early adolescence. Little is known, however, about the
       extent to which such discussions take place. We conducted an anonymous
       self-administered survey of 2026 9th-12th graders--98% of students in a
       racially diverse urban school district who read English and attended
       school on survey day. Seventy-one percent had a regular doctor, and 53%
       had had vaginal intercourse. Only 15% of adolescents had discussed their
       sex life with a physician. Even among those who had a regular physician
       and who had already had vaginal intercourse, the percentage was only
       26%. Adolescents had more often discussed general aspects of risk
       prevention, e.g., to use a condom for vaginal intercourse (37%) and how
       to prevent AIDS (39%), than more technical aspects, e.g., how to use a
       condom (13%) and how to say no to sex (13%). Also 8% had received
       condoms from physicians, and 8% had discussed sexual orientation.
       Concerns about confidentiality may inhibit adolescents from honestly
       discussing sexual matters. While 65% would trust a doctor to keep their
       sexual activity secret from parents, only 44% would trust a doctor to
       keep secret that they had a sexually transmitted disease. Adolescents
       who knew that physicians can provide confidential care were more likely
       to trust them, and 59% would find it helpful to discuss their sex life
       with a physician they trusted. These results indicate a need to increase
       the extent to which physicians discuss sexual issues with adolescents
       and assure them of confidentiality, preferably before they become
       sexually active.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PREVENTION & CONTROL  Adolescence
       *Communication  Condoms  Health Behavior  Human  *Physician-Patient
       Relations  Risk Factors  *Sex Behavior  MEETING ABSTRACT  JOURNAL
       ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).