Discussing Sexual Health

For guidance on how to take a sexual health history and ways to start the discussion, the following resources are available:

• Australian STI Management Guidelines – How to take a sexual history
• ASHM Sexual History Taking Resource Catalogue

Patient Resources:

You may wish to use the following resources to talk to patients about syphilis and other STIs:

• Young Deadly Free – resources designed to be accessible for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including syphilis and STI infographics, videos, and factsheets. Resources are available to order.
• QLD Aboriginal and Islander Health Council – Men’s and Women’s sexual health flyers – created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Health Workers and Practitioners working in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled sector.
• Better to Know Booklet – a resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, covering both men’s and women’s business
• Syphilis fact sheet for patients –available in English, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese (simplified), Spanish, Thai, Korean, Tagalog (Filipino), and Vietnamese.

Considerations:

• The distinction of Men’s and Women’s Business should be considered in the delivery of culturally safe healthcare for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. Where possible, patients should be given the option to choose a clinician of their preferred gender.
• Some patients may be reluctant to receive sexual health care at their usual place of healthcare due to confidentiality concerns or cultural issues. You can inform patients that there are options to be tested and treated for syphilis at many different locations including at sexual health clinics, other local GPs, family planning centres, community healthcare centres, women’s health centres and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) or Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS).