176. Primary Care Physicians' Provision of Sexual Health Advice to Adolescents in a Rural Nova Scotia Community

Abstract

includes prompts for the provider to ask about sex and contraception. At the end of all visit types (preventative and nonpreventative), providers completed a short series of questions that asked about sexual activity and contraception. Descriptive and 2 analyses were used to assess the frequency of contraceptive counseling and prior reported condom use and plans to use condoms. Results: During the study period, 825 adolescent males ages 12-23 (mean SD; 16.4 2.1 years), attended 1,492 visits in the adolescent clinic. Of these, 436 (29%) were preventive visits and 1,056 (71%) were non-preventive visits. Of the patients who attended non-preventive visits, 392 (48%) did not attend a preventive visit in that year. At the preventive visits, contraception was discussed 95% of the time. When contraception was discussed at these visits, plans to use condoms increased from34% to 40% (p .001). At non-preventive visits, contraception was discussed 38% of the time. When contraception was discussed at these visits, plans to use condoms increased from 19% to 21% (p .001). Contraception was discussed more with the older ( 16 years) adolescents compared to younger ( 16 years) adolescents, 58% vs. 49%, p .001. Discussion:Whenprompted by an adolescent preventive health visit template reminding providers to ask about sex and contraception, a high proportion of providers do so. However for the non-preventive visits providers counsel patients less frequently. Providers also discuss contraception more frequently with boys older than 16 years than those that are younger. Conclusions: Adolescent providers should discuss contraception with their male patients. Providers should be aware that manymale patients donot attend regular preventive visits and should use non-preventive visits as an opportunity to discuss contraception. When providers discuss contraception with their adolescentmale patients, reported plans to use condoms increases. Sources of Support: None.