supporting GP’s delivery of youth sexual healthcare
Case Studies
The Brief
To build an evidence base of General Practitioner’s (GPs) experience of providing sexual health care to young people in NSW to inform the next phase of youth sexual health promotion, and better support GPs in the workforce in providing sexual healthcare to young people. For the purpose of this study, young people refer to those aged 16 – 24 years old.
To build an evidence base of General Practitioner’s (GPs) experience of providing sexual health care to young people in NSW to inform the next phase of youth sexual health promotion, and better support GPs in the workforce in providing sexual healthcare to young people. For the purpose of this study, young people refer to those aged 16 – 24 years old.
The approach
A focus group with six GPs was used to understand current barriers and enablers to initiating, facilitating, and providing sexual health care to young people. It also explored the support and resources currently provided to GPs to assess how to better support them in the workforce.
A focus group with six GPs was used to understand current barriers and enablers to initiating, facilitating, and providing sexual health care to young people. It also explored the support and resources currently provided to GPs to assess how to better support them in the workforce.
The challenge
The challenge was to ensure a diverse range of GPs were included in the small sample size to gain insight into a range of experiences of providing sexual health care to young people. To achieve this, GPs were carefully screened and selected based on gender, age, location, youth patient loads and confidence with the topic.
The challenge was to ensure a diverse range of GPs were included in the small sample size to gain insight into a range of experiences of providing sexual health care to young people. To achieve this, GPs were carefully screened and selected based on gender, age, location, youth patient loads and confidence with the topic.
The insight
NSW GPs have diverse experiences in providing sexual healthcare to young people, which depend on community context and patient background. They are more at ease with conversations initiated by patients, particularly when involving those under 18, LGBTQI+, or from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. GPs with more experience at providing sexual healthcare to young people are more comfortable initiating conversations.
NSW GPs have diverse experiences in providing sexual healthcare to young people, which depend on community context and patient background. They are more at ease with conversations initiated by patients, particularly when involving those under 18, LGBTQI+, or from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. GPs with more experience at providing sexual healthcare to young people are more comfortable initiating conversations.
The outcome
These insights have informed youth sexual health campaigns and programs, including the development of culturally specific resources, and those tailored to various patient groups, to improve support.
These insights have informed youth sexual health campaigns and programs, including the development of culturally specific resources, and those tailored to various patient groups, to improve support.
