Factors Affecting Sexual History Taking in a Health Center Serving Homeless Persons

Defining focused ethnography: Disciplinary boundary-work and the imagined divisions between 'focused' and 'traditional' ethnography in health research - A critical review

This article offers the first critical review of focused ethnography, an increasingly popular research method across health disciplines. Focused ethnographers, we argue, exemplify the practice of methodological boundary work, defining their method in contrast to the 'traditional' ethnographic approach of anthropology and sociology. To examine this boundary work, we collected two samples of health research articles published over the last decade and compared how focused ethnographers and medical anthropologists described, justified, and practised ethnography. We found that the core characteristics most often asserted to differentiate focused ethnography from conventional ethnography were: a more limited study timeframe and scope; a limited subpopulation sample; more concentrated research questions; the inclusion of insider researchers; and more orientation towards applied results. We show, however, that these are imagined binaries that fail to map onto actual differences of practice in the two samples and which obscure many similarities between them. By contrast, we identified four alternative differences between the two methods of ethnography. These centre on understandings of 'research time'; the very meaning of ethnography; the relationship of researchers to 'data'; and the presumed best method of social intervention. We therefore define focused ethnography as a versatile method of ethnography that attends to specific epistemological expectations within the health sciences regarding valid proof and empirical description, the boundaries of research, the nature of research relationships, and the duty to improve biomedicine. Ultimately, our study highlights that methodological boundary-work matters, because assumed differences and unexpressed misunderstandings can prevent productive dialogue and fruitful collaboration between disciplines to address pressing health problems.

History-taking level and its influencing factors among nursing undergraduates based on the virtual standardized patient testing results: Cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

History-taking is an essential skill for nurses. In nursing education, it is necessary to objectively assess history-taking skills in a way that accurately reflects differences among students. Current history-taking evaluation methods lack objectivity, consistency and standardization, which makes it difficult to identify factors that influence history-taking skill. A virtual standardized patient (VSP) can provide history-taking practice with repeatability and consistency. It can make objective and standardized assessment possible by eliminating the subjectivity of different teachers and patients.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the history-taking skills of nursing undergraduates using a VSP, and to explore its independent influencing factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of convenience from 3 universities. All 174 nursing undergraduates had their history-taking level evaluated using one VSP via computer or mobile terminal. For each query raised by the students, the VSP could give a preset response. The responses were assigned corresponding scores according to their importance, with a total score of 100. The students' general demographics were documented, and their self-efficacy, critical thinking and communication skills were measured online with the Nursing History-taking Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, Yoon's Critical Thinking Disposition Instrument and the Supportive Communicative Scale. Univariate analysis, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were performed.

RESULTS

The mean total history-taking score was 58.53 ± 14.32. History-taking scores were well discriminated among the students tested, with 10% of the students scoring above 80, 37% between 60 and 80, 22% between 50 and 60 and 31% scored below 50. The history-taking level of the nursing students was significantly associated with ethnicity, previous academic performance, and Supportive Communicative Scale scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Using the VSP as a history-taking assessment method is an effective way to achieve a relatively objective, standardized and consistent assessment of history-taking education. Ethnicity, previous academic performance and supportive communication skills independently influenced the students' history-taking level. Mature history-taking skills require not only solid theoretical knowledge but good communication skills.

Sexual History Taking: Perspectives on Doctor-Patient Interactions During Routine Consultations in Rural Primary Care in South Africa

Background

Sexual history taking for risk behavior contributes to improving health outcomes in primary care. Giving the high numbers of people living with AIDS, every patient in South Africa should be offered an HIV test, which implies that a comprehensive sexual history must be taken.

Aim

To describe the optimal consultation process, as well as associated factors and skills required to improve disclosure of sexual health issues during a clinical encounter with a doctor in primary health care settings in North West province, South Africa.

Methods

This qualitative study, based on grounded theory, involved the video-recording of 151 consultations of adult patients living primarily with hypertension and diabetes. This article reports on the 5 consultations where some form of sexual history taking was observed. Patient consultations were analyzed thematically, which entailed open coding, followed by focused and verbatim coding using MaxQDA 2018 software. Confirmability was ensured by 2 generalist doctors, a public health specialist and the study supervisors.

Main Outcome Measure

Sexual history was not taken and patients living with sexual dysfunction were missed. If patients understand how disease and medication contribute to their sexual wellbeing, this may change their perceptions of the illness and adherence patterns.

Results

Sexual history was taken in 5 (3%) out of 151 consultations. Three themes emerged from these 5 consultations. In the patient-doctor relationship theme, patients experienced paternalism and a lack of warmth and respect. The consultation context theme included the seating arrangements, ineffective use of time, and privacy challenges due to interruptions and translators. Theme 3, consultation content, dealt with poor coverage of the components of the sexual health history.

Conclusion

Overall, sexual dysfunction in patients was totally overlooked and risk for HIV was not explored, which had a negative effect on patients’ quality of life and long-term health outcomes. The study provided detailed information on the complexity of sexual history taking during a routine consultation and is relevant to primary health care in a rural setting. Pretorius D, Couper I, Mlambo M. Sexual History Taking: Perspectives on Doctor-Patient Interactions During Routine Consultations in Rural Primary Care in South Africa. Sex Med 2021;9:100389.

Neglected sexual dysfunction symptoms amongst chronic patients during routine consultations in rural clinics in the North West province

BACKGROUND

Sexual dysfunction contributes to personal feelings of loss and despair and being a cause of exacerbated interpersonal conflict. Erectile dysfunction is also an early biomarker of cardiovascular disease. As doctors hardly ever ask about this problem, it is unknown how many patients presenting for routine consultations in primary care suffer from symptoms of sexual dysfunction.

AIM

To develop an understanding of sexual history taking events, this study aimed to assess the proportion of patients living with symptoms of sexual dysfunction that could have been elicited or addressed during routine chronic illness consultations.

SETTING

The research was carried out in 10 primary care facilities in Dr Kenneth Kaunda Health District, the North West province, South Africa. This rural area is known for farming and mining activities.

METHODS

This study contributed to a broader research project with a focus on sexual history taking during a routine consultation. A sample of 151 consultations involving patients with chronic illnesses were selected to observe sexual history taking events. In this study, the patients involved in these consultations completed demographic and sexual dysfunction questionnaires (FSFI and IIEF) to establish the proportions of patients with sexual dysfunction symptoms.

RESULTS

A total of 81 women (78%) and 46 men (98%) were sexually active. A total of 91% of the women reported sexual dysfunction symptoms, whilst 98% of men had erectile dysfunction symptoms. The youngest patients to experience sexual dysfunction were a 19-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man. Patients expressed trust in their doctors and 91% of patients did not consider discussion of sexual matters with their doctors as too sensitive.

CONCLUSION

Clinical guidelines, especially for chronic illness care, must include screening for sexual dysfunction as an essential element in the consultation. Clinical care of patients living with chronic disease cannot ignore sexual well-being, given the frequency of problems. A referral to a sexual medicine specialist, psychologist or social worker can address consequences of sexual dysfunction and improve relationships.