Sexual health risk assessment and counseling in primary care: How involvedare general practitioners and obstetrician-gynecologists?

Objectives. This study examined physicians' evaluation of sexual health ris ks during a general medical examination and sexually transmitted disease (S TD) counseling during consultations for adolescent contraception and treatm ent of an STD. Methods. An anonymous mail survey was conducted in 1995 with a stratified r andom sample of 1086 general practitioners and all 241 obstetrician-gynecol ogists practicing in Quebec, Canada. Results. Fewer than half of the respondents reported routinely inquiring ab out condom use and number of sexual partners during a general medical exami nation. Female general practitioners engaged in more sexual health risk ass essment and counseling than male general practitioners. Conclusions. This study suggests a low level of involvement in STD preventi on by generalists and obstetrician-gynecologists.