Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, Limburg North Public Health Service, Roermond, the Netherlands.
Sex Transm Dis. 2020 Sep;47(9):639-644. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001209.
Chemsex-using illicit drugs during sex-is prevalent among men who have sex with men (MSM) and associated with sexual and mental health harms. Sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics are a frequently visited and trusted health care facility for MSM. This study assessed the frequency and extent to which chemsex is addressed by Dutch STD nurses.
Of the 24 Dutch public STD clinics, an online questionnaire was distributed in 20 STD clinics (83%) in 2019; the questionnaire was sent to 191 STD nurses, of whom 108 (57%) completed the questionnaire. The main outcome was addressing chemsex during regular MSM consultations, measured on a 5-point Likert scale (never-always). Items measuring knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, and the social norm were also measured on a 5-point Likert scale (totally disagree-totally agree).
Of the 108 participating STD nurses, 77 (71%) addressed chemsex regularly or always during MSM consultations. In general, STD nurses indicated to have sufficient knowledge about chemsex (mean [SD], 3.6 [0.5]) and a positive attitude toward addressing chemsex (mean [SD], 4.3 [0.5]). A need for training on chemsex was reported by 82 (76%) STD nurses, especially in signaling problematic chemsex (56/82; 68%). Three STD clinics (15%) had a protocol on addressing chemsex, and 3 STD clinics (15%) had referral pathways to addiction care.
Sexually transmitted disease nurses from Dutch STD clinics regularly addressed chemsex during MSM consultations. Our results show relevance of educating STD nurses on signaling problematic chemsex and arranging referral pathways to addiction care to optimize chemsex related health care.
性化学（性行为中使用非法药物）在男男性行为者（MSM）中很普遍，与性健康和心理健康危害有关。性传播疾病（STD）诊所是 MSM 经常光顾和信任的医疗保健机构。本研究评估了荷兰 STD 护士解决性化学问题的频率和程度。
在 24 家荷兰公立 STD 诊所中，2019 年在 20 家 STD 诊所（83%）中分发了在线问卷；问卷发送给 191 名 STD 护士，其中 108 名（57%）完成了问卷。主要结果是在常规 MSM 咨询中解决性化学问题，采用 5 点 Likert 量表（从不-总是）进行测量。还使用 5 点 Likert 量表（完全不同意-完全同意）测量知识、态度、自我效能和社会规范方面的项目。
108 名参与 STD 护士中，77 名（71%）在 MSM 咨询中定期或总是解决性化学问题。一般来说，STD 护士表示对性化学有足够的了解（平均[SD]，3.6 [0.5]），并对解决性化学问题持积极态度（平均[SD]，4.3 [0.5]）。82 名（76%）STD 护士报告需要进行性化学培训，特别是在信号性化学问题方面（56/82；68%）。有 3 家 STD 诊所（15%）有解决性化学问题的方案，有 3 家 STD 诊所（15%）有转介成瘾护理的途径。
荷兰 STD 诊所的性传播疾病护士在 MSM 咨询中经常解决性化学问题。我们的结果表明，有必要对 STD 护士进行信号性化学问题和安排成瘾护理转介途径的教育，以优化性化学相关的医疗保健。
