An Advanced, Risk-Driven Sexual Health Curriculum for First-Year Internal Medicine Residents

Introduction Despite recommendations for annual chlamydia screening for young, sexually active females, chlamydia rates continue to increase nationally. Medical school students often receive limited training in obtaining comprehensive, risk-based sexual histories, leading to less screening for sexua...

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Main Authors: Maria Elizabeth Maldonado, Jennifer Rusiecki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Association of American Medical Colleges 2022-12-01
Series:MedEdPORTAL
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11287
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author Maria Elizabeth Maldonado
Jennifer Rusiecki
author_facet Maria Elizabeth Maldonado
Jennifer Rusiecki
author_sort Maria Elizabeth Maldonado
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Despite recommendations for annual chlamydia screening for young, sexually active females, chlamydia rates continue to increase nationally. Medical school students often receive limited training in obtaining comprehensive, risk-based sexual histories, leading to less screening for sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs). Consequently, many internal medicine (IM) residents feel unprepared for advanced sexual history taking and site-specific STI testing based on sexual practices. Methods We developed a case-based interactive didactic session for IM and med/peds residents. We focused on more advanced topics, such as comprehensive sexual history taking, secondary site testing for STIs, and patient counseling. Results Based on pre- and postcurriculum surveys, interns reported increases in comfort (scale: 1 = very low comfort, 5 = very high comfort) with counseling after positive STI results (Ms: pre = 2.9, post = 3.5, p < .01) and providing education on safe sex practices (Ms: pre = 3.0, post = 3.6, p < .01) and modest improvement in comfort with expedited partner therapy (EPT; Ms: pre = 2.1, post = 2.5, p = .06). An increase in self-reported confidence with collecting site-specific testing (composite Ms: pre = 2.7, post = 3.5, p < .01) was also seen. Percentage correct on knowledge questions increased from 48% to 78% postcurriculum (p = .01). Discussion This curriculum demonstrated improvement in knowledge and comfort with sexual history taking, STI screening, and counseling. Comfort also improved with EPT counseling, but not significantly, which could be addressed in future iterations of the curriculum.
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spelling doaj.art-7fc22d824d834efe9e76fba47ca7f0902022-12-22T04:22:07ZengAssociation of American Medical CollegesMedEdPORTAL2374-82652022-12-011810.15766/mep_2374-8265.11287An Advanced, Risk-Driven Sexual Health Curriculum for First-Year Internal Medicine ResidentsMaria Elizabeth Maldonado0Jennifer Rusiecki1Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of MedicineAssistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago MedicineIntroduction Despite recommendations for annual chlamydia screening for young, sexually active females, chlamydia rates continue to increase nationally. Medical school students often receive limited training in obtaining comprehensive, risk-based sexual histories, leading to less screening for sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs). Consequently, many internal medicine (IM) residents feel unprepared for advanced sexual history taking and site-specific STI testing based on sexual practices. Methods We developed a case-based interactive didactic session for IM and med/peds residents. We focused on more advanced topics, such as comprehensive sexual history taking, secondary site testing for STIs, and patient counseling. Results Based on pre- and postcurriculum surveys, interns reported increases in comfort (scale: 1 = very low comfort, 5 = very high comfort) with counseling after positive STI results (Ms: pre = 2.9, post = 3.5, p < .01) and providing education on safe sex practices (Ms: pre = 3.0, post = 3.6, p < .01) and modest improvement in comfort with expedited partner therapy (EPT; Ms: pre = 2.1, post = 2.5, p = .06). An increase in self-reported confidence with collecting site-specific testing (composite Ms: pre = 2.7, post = 3.5, p < .01) was also seen. Percentage correct on knowledge questions increased from 48% to 78% postcurriculum (p = .01). Discussion This curriculum demonstrated improvement in knowledge and comfort with sexual history taking, STI screening, and counseling. Comfort also improved with EPT counseling, but not significantly, which could be addressed in future iterations of the curriculum.http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11287Safe Sex EducationSexually Transmitted IllnessesSTIsAmbulatory CareHistory TakingHuman Sexuality
spellingShingle Maria Elizabeth Maldonado
Jennifer Rusiecki
An Advanced, Risk-Driven Sexual Health Curriculum for First-Year Internal Medicine Residents
MedEdPORTAL
Safe Sex Education
Sexually Transmitted Illnesses
STIs
Ambulatory Care
History Taking
Human Sexuality
title An Advanced, Risk-Driven Sexual Health Curriculum for First-Year Internal Medicine Residents
title_full An Advanced, Risk-Driven Sexual Health Curriculum for First-Year Internal Medicine Residents
title_fullStr An Advanced, Risk-Driven Sexual Health Curriculum for First-Year Internal Medicine Residents
title_full_unstemmed An Advanced, Risk-Driven Sexual Health Curriculum for First-Year Internal Medicine Residents
title_short An Advanced, Risk-Driven Sexual Health Curriculum for First-Year Internal Medicine Residents
title_sort advanced risk driven sexual health curriculum for first year internal medicine residents
topic Safe Sex Education
Sexually Transmitted Illnesses
STIs
Ambulatory Care
History Taking
Human Sexuality
url http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11287
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