Thomas N, Murray E, Rogstad K E
Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2JF, UK.
Int J STD AIDS. 2006 Aug;17(8):525-9. doi: 10.1258/095646206778145686.
A survey was undertaken to determine the importance of confidentiality of sexual health clinics to young people, and their preferences for service provision. A questionnaire was given to school attenders in year 9 (age 13-14 years) at four comprehensive schools. Class leaders assisted students with literacy or language difficulties. Two hundred and ninety five questionnaires were distributed and all were returned (male 143 (48.5%), female 152 (51.5%). In all 199 (67.5%) had never used sexual health services. The importance of confidentiality (asked in two differently worded questions) was rated as 8.84 and 8.59 (mean) on a scale of 1 (not important) to 10 (very important), 166 (56.3%) rated confidentiality as most important feature of service and 254 (86.1%) were more likely to use a service if it was confidential; 161 (54.6%) would not use service if it were not confidential. Two hundred and sixty-six (90.2%) would give honest answers in a confidential service; 186 (63.1%) would not attend if they thought that child protection services would be informed; 136 (46.1%) would not want general practitioner informed of attendance; 209 (70.8%) would like regular sexual health check ups; 150 (50.8%) would prefer a young people clinic, but only 105 (35.6%) prefer a 'one-stop shop'. This study shows that confidentiality is extremely important to young people considering using a sexual health service. It is the first UK study to show that if confidentiality is lost, young people may not attend, or may not be honest when they utilize a sexual health service. This is particularly relevant at the moment in light of the threat to confidentiality for young people attending sexual health services.
开展了一项调查，以确定性健康诊所的保密性对年轻人的重要性，以及他们对服务提供的偏好。向四所综合学校九年级（13 - 14岁）的在校学生发放了问卷。班长协助有读写或语言困难的学生。共发放了295份问卷，全部回收（男生143人（48.5%），女生152人（51.5%））。其中199人（67.5%）从未使用过性健康服务。保密性的重要性（在两个措辞不同的问题中询问）在1（不重要）至10（非常重要）的量表上平均得分为8.84和8.59，166人（56.3%）将保密性评为服务的最重要特征，254人（86.1%）表示如果服务是保密的，他们更有可能使用该服务；161人（54.6%）表示如果服务不保密就不会使用。266人（90.2%）会在保密服务中给出诚实答案；186人（63.1%）如果认为儿童保护服务机构会被告知就不会就诊；136人（46.1%）不希望全科医生得知其就诊情况；209人（70.8%）希望定期进行性健康检查；150人（50.8%）更喜欢青少年诊所，但只有105人（35.6%）更喜欢“一站式服务”。这项研究表明，保密性对考虑使用性健康服务的年轻人极其重要。这是英国第一项表明如果失去保密性，年轻人可能不会就诊，或者在使用性健康服务时可能不诚实的研究。鉴于目前青少年性健康服务保密性面临的威胁，这一点尤为重要。
