Sexual health in the primary care consultation: Using self-rating as an aid to identifying training needs for General Practitioners

General Practitioners are the first point of contact for most patients with sexual difficulties. They can manage less complex problems, but need skills, knowledge and suitable attitudes in order to assess, treat or refer appropriately. Undergraduate training in sexual medicine has been inadequate and compensatory postgraduate education is needed. The requirements of General Practitioners for sexual health education were assessed using self-rating of competence in sexual medicine, recall of previous training and intentions to take up postgraduate education in sexual health. Replies were obtained from 72%. Nearly three-quarters recalled receiving fewer than five days educational activities in sexual health as students. Usually they had increased their knowledge since qualification by experience and self-teaching. Although the majority of the respondents felt competent most or some of the time, the varied replies illustrated some of their difficulties. Most felt able to talk openly about sexual matters but this can be contrasted with evidence from patients, who often feel unable to raise the subject. Nearly all the General Practitioners wanted training to improve their ability to manage their own patients. A variety of training opportunities needs to be designed to match differing learning styles and the types of learning favoured by the respondents.