Young peoples' understanding of safer sex and their attitude to referral for STI screening - two audits from London Brook Advisory Centres

The audit aimed to assess standards of care in informing clients of the ris k of sexually transmitted infections, thereby enabling them to make appropr iate choices and, secondly, to review the case notes to assess whether or n ot there was documentary evidence that safer sex had been discussed at a pr evious visit. The audit targeted existing clients at three selected Brook C entres in London. In order to assess the clients' understanding and commitm ent to safer sex a framework of questions was devised with a scale fbr scor ing. The documentation review comprised a retrospective analysis of the cas e notes. The initial audit provided an opportunity for critical appraisal, the re-audit after implementing change demonstrated improved quality of hea lth care. Documentary evidence that clients had been given information will not guara ntee that they have taken it in. Even when a young person knows and underst ands something in theory it will not necessarily change their behavior in s exual encounter. Our educational interventions must be tailored to each cli ent, and trigger questions can save time by quickly identifying where the c lient is at in their understanding, always remembering that where practice is good that we should reaffirm the importance of safer sex.