ACCEPTABILITY OF CLINICS FOR SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED-DISEASES AMONG USERS OF THE GAY-SCENE IN THE WEST MIDLANDS

Objectives: To examine the acceptability of genitourinary medicine (GU M) clinics (for STDs) to homosexual and bisexual men. Design: A cross sectional survey of men using ''gay'' venues and groups in the West Mi dlands region of the UK. Data were collected using an anonymous self-c ompleted questionnaire. Results: 848 completed questionnaires were ret urned. Two thirds of the respondents reported ''safer'' sexual behavio ur. Those who had ever attended a GUM clinic (55%) differed little in their safer sexual behaviour from those who had never attended. The ac ceptability of the service was assessed using a range of indicators: t he majority of the attendees had told a doctor, nurse or health advise r they have sex with men; and just over half had found all staff to be friendly, helpful or not homophobic. A quarter of attendees found tal king about sexual matters difficult; these were less likely to have fo und the service acceptable. Over half (54%) of the study respondents h ad not been vaccinated against hepatitis B. Those who had been vaccina ted were more likely: to have found the service acceptable; to have fo und talking about sexual matters easy; and to report safer sexual beha viour. Conclusions: These findings suggest that many homosexual and bi sexual men who may need to use the GUM service have not done so. There is a need to improve the acceptability of the service and to further promote hepatitis B vaccination.