Talking about STDs with Health Professionals: Women’s Experiences

Now I am going to ask you a series of questions about sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV or AIDS, such as gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and chlamydia. We want to learn from you how the topic of sexually transmitted diseases, also called STDs, was handled in your visit so that we can help doctors do a better job of addressing STDs with their patients.

Again, please remember that your answers to these questions will be kept completely confidential, and your responses will be shown only in combination with those of the other people we survey.

28. Now, thinking back to this last visit, were there any patient education materials like brochures or videos, about STDs in the (doctor’s office [If private “doctor’s office” or “DK/REF” at Qu. 4b] / clinic [If “family planning” or “other type of clinic” at Qu. 4b])? (Single response)

Yes 61 No 30 Don’t know 9 Refused 0
29. Did someone in your (doctor’s office [If private “doctor’s office” or “DK/REF” at Qu. 4b] / clinic [If “family planning” or “other type of clinic” at Qu. 4b]) discuss sexually transmitted diseases, other than AIDS, with you at this visit? (Single response)

Yes 15 No 85 Don’t know * Refused 0
30a. Who initiated this conversation, you or someone in your (doctor’s office [If private “doctor’s office” or “DK/REF” at Qu. 4b] / clinic [If “family planning” or “other type of clinic” at Qu. 4b])? (Single response)

Based on those who discussed STDs. (n=72)

You 17 Someone in your doctor’s office/clinic 83 Don’t know 0 Refused 0
30b. Please tell me whether each of the following apply to how you felt when the health professional raised the subject of STDs with you? Did you feel (insert list)? (Single response) (Record Yes/No/DK/Ref for each) (Rotate first two statements only)

Based on those who discussed STDs. (n=72)

Yes No Don’t know Refused Relieved 47 47 4 1 Offended or insulted 4 94 1 0 It was expected 86 14 0 0
30c. Where did this discussion take place? (Do not read list) (Multiple response) (If respondent says “examining room” probe with: Was that while you were dressed or undressed?)

Based on those who discussed STDs. (n=72)

In examining room while you were dressed 44 In doctor’s personal office 36 In examining room while you were undressed 17 In counseling room 4 All other 3 In waiting room 1 Don’t know 0 Refused 0
30d. Where would you have preferred this conversation took place? Would you say (read list)? (Single response)

Based on those who discussed STDs. (n=72)

In doctor’s personal office 46 In examining room while you were dressed 42 Doesn’t matter 6 In examining room while you were undressed 4 Don’t know 1 Refused 1
31a. Please tell me whether each of the following apply to how you would have felt if the health professional had talked about STDs with you? Would you have felt (insert list)? (Single response) (Record Yes/No/DK/Ref for each) (Rotate first two statements only)

Based on those who did NOT discuss STDs. (n=408)

Yes No Don’t know Refused Relieved 24 72 4 * Offended or insulted 6 93 1 0 It was expected 64 36 0 *
31b. Do you think the health professional should have raised the subject with you? (Single response)

Based on those who did not discuss STDs. (n=408)

Yes 33 No 66 Don’t know 2 Refused 0
31c. Do you think you should have raised the subject of STDs? (Single response)

Based on those who did NOT discuss STDs. (n=408)

Yes 15 No 85 Don’t know 1 Refused 0
32. Why not? (Do not read list) (Multiple response)

Based on those who did not believe they or health professional should have raised STDs. (n=255)

Don’t feel at risk for STDs/only one partner/married 77 Discussed with doctor or health professional before 7 Visit was for other reason 7 No reason to (unspec.) 6 Already know about STDs/Office knows my history 2 Already been tested 2 Don’t know what STDs are 1 Don’t know 0 Refused 0
33. In general, do you think STDs should be discussed as part of seeing a new doctor orhealth professional for gynecological care? (Single response)

Yes 83 No 6 Depends 9 Don’t know 2 Refused 0
34. Who do you think has the primary responsibility for raising the subject of STDs, the health professional or the patient? (Do not read list) (Single response)

Health professional 64 Patient 23 Both 12 Neither 0 Don’t know 1 Refused 0
35. Who would you prefer talk to you about STDs, a doctor, a nurse, a counselor, or someone else in the doctor’s office? (Do not read list) (Single response)

Doctor 71 Nurse 12 Doesn’t matter 12 Counselor 2 Either a doctor or nurse 2 All other * No one * Don’t know * Refused 0
36. Did you feel you and your health professional had enough time to discuss STDs? (Single response)

Based on those who discussed STDs. (n=72)

Yes, had enough time 94 No, not enough time 6 Don’t know 0 Refused 0
37a. Did the health professional seem embarrassed or uncomfortable during your discussion about STDs? (Single response)

Based on those who discussed STDs. (n=72)

Yes 4 No 96 Don’t know 0 Refused 0
37b. Were you embarrassed or uncomfortable during this discussion? (Single response)

Based on those who discussed STDs. (n=72)

Yes 7 No 93 Don’t know 0 Refused 0
38. Did the health professional seem like he or she was judging you during this discussion? (Single response)

Based on those who discussed STDs. (n=72)

Yes 6 No 94 Don’t know 0 Refused 0
39. Did the health professional suggest to you that you should be tested for any STDs? (Single response)

Based on those who discussed STDs. (n=72)

Yes 32 No 67 Don’t know 1 Refused 0
40. Which, if any, specific STDs did the health professional recommend you get tested for? (Read list) (Rotate) (Multiple response) Probe: Can you think of any others?

Based on those for whom health professional suggested STD testing. (n=23)

Gonorrhea 74 AIDS/HIV 70 Chlamydia 65 Syphilis 52 Herpes 35 Human Papilloma Virus, or genital warts 30 Trichomonas 13 All others 13 No specific STDs mentioned 9
41. Omitted

42. Would you say the subject of STDs was discussed in a way that made you feel very comfortable, somewhat comfortable, not very comfortable, or not at all comfortable? (Single response)

Based on those who discussed STDs. (n=72)

Very comfortable (4) 76 Mean: 3.7 Somewhat comfortable (3) 21 Not very comfortable (2) 3 Not at all comfortable (1) 0 Don’t know 0 Refused 0
43. Did you feel that the health professional asked you enough questions, and knew enough about you, to be able to tell whether or not you were at risk for STDs? (Single response)

Total Among women
who did not talk
about STDs
(n=408) Yes 80 80 No 19 20 Don’t know 1 * Refused 0 0
44. Next I’m going to describe different issues that might affect how comfortable a patient feels about discussing STDs with a doctor or other health professional. Please rate how important each one is to you, very important, somewhat important, not very important or makes no difference.

The first [next] is (insert list). (Single response)

Where the conversation takes place, such as the exam room or in a private office:

Very important (4) 26 Mean: 2.5 Somewhat important (3) 25 Not very important (2) 20 Makes no difference (1) 29 Don’t know 0 Refused 0
Whether you are certain that the conversation is completely confidential:

Very important (4) 80 Mean: 3.7 Somewhat important (3) 15 Not very important (2) 2 Makes no difference (1) 4 Don’t know 0 Refused 0
Whether you feel the health professional might be judging you:

Very important (4) 46 Mean: 3.1 Somewhat important (3) 27 Not very important (2) 14 Makes no difference (1) 13 Don’t know * Refused 0
Whether the health professional is a [rotate] woman or man/man or woman:

Very important (4) 19 Mean: 2.1 Somewhat important (3) 19 Not very important (2) 19 Makes no difference (1) 43 Don’t know 0 Refused 0

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Talking About STDs With Health Professionals: Women’s Experiences:
Press Release Report Survey Part One Part Two Part Three

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