[Evaluation of the approach to sexuality in primary care consultations in Spain: A multicentre comparative study (2004-2017)]

Abstract

Objective: To describe how sexuality is addressed in general practitioners' (GP) consultations, as well as to compare the results of a questionnaire carried out in 2017 that updated the data obtained from a 2004 survey.

Material and methods: Descriptive, analytical, multicentre study with 2cross-sections. Of the 3,500 GP who met the selection criteria (holding current accreditation as a resident tutor and being an active worker at the time of the study), 598 doctors participated in the survey in 2017 and 357 in 2004.

Results: In both studies, the majority (98.6% in 2017 and 96% in 2004) consider that the sexual sphere is an important component in people's health, but less than half (40, 6% in 2017 and 21.6% in 2004) systematically recorded it in their clinical history. The main source of training in sexuality in both studies were continuing education courses (50.6% in 2017 and 31.4% in 2004). The main barriers found in both studies were lack of time (85.5% in 2017 and 82.1% in 2004) and lack of training (75.2% in 2017 and 74.5% in 2004).

Conclusions: GP are aware of the importance of sexuality in people's health, despite this, few professionals systematically record it in their medical records. The main source of training in sexuality is continuing education courses, which has increased in recent years. The main barriers in both studies are lack of time and poor training.

Keywords: Atención primaria de salud; Family practice; Medicina familiar y comunitaria; Primary health care; Salud sexual; Sexual health; Sexualidad; Sexuality.