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Most medical students confident talking about sexual health

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 30, 2010

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When discussing a patient's sexual issues, medical students can be hindered by their sexual experiences, but most say they can discuss these issues effectively, according to a study in the August Academic Medicine.

In an anonymous 2008 online survey of 2,261 medical students in the U.S. and Canada, 53% said training on sexual topics was lacking in medical school. Even so, 81.1% said they felt confident talking with patients about sexual health.

Those less comfortable included students with limited sexual experience and sexual dysfunctions and those who cited limited medical school training. Bisexual and homosexual students were more confident talking with patients than heterosexual students.

The study called for "open and free discourse" on sexuality and sexual health to improve students' quality of life and ensure they are able to address such issues with patients (link).

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/08/30/prbf0830.htm.

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