Chlamydia screening in adults attending a sexual health clinic : stages of change, anxiety and sexual behaviour

• Main Author: Lewis, Emma Jane
• Other Authors: Glover, Lesley
• Published: University of Hull 2007
• Subjects: 614.5735; Medicine
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.479142

The aim of this research was to examine an individual's stage of change (SOC) for positive sexual health behaviours, (i.e. using condoms and seeking screening for sexually transmitted infections-STIs) and level of state anxiety at different times during attendance at a sexual health clinic (before examination, after treatment and at 6 week follow up). The study investigated whether there is a relationship between level of anxiety and SOC for positive sexual health behaviours depending on whether a patient is asymptomatic or not. Furthermore the research aimed to find out if level of anxiety and SOC for positive sexual health behaviours predict whether patients return back to the clinic. The study involved a repeated measures longitudinal design. Participants were asked to complete a sexual health questionnaire, which examined components of the Transtheoretical Model of behaviour change and level of state anxiety at three different phases of the study. There was no relationship between SOC for condom use and patients who were asymptomatic and those who were not. There was a relationship found with STI screening; asymptomatic patients were more likely to be in the earlier SOC and symptomatic patients were more likely to be in the later SOC. There was no difference in levels of anxiety between patients who were asymptomatic and those who were not. Level of anxiety was not a predictor for SOC for positive sexual health behaviours at initial attendance. Finally, SOC for positive sexual health behaviour and anxiety did not predict whether a patient would return to the clinic.