Sexually transmitted diseases: a pilot education programme in Queensland.

Abstract

AbstractThis paper examines a three month education programme on sexually transmitted diseases (STD); it was the first programme related to sexual matters officially used in Queensland State high schools. Funded by the State Health Department (Division of Health Promotion), the programme involved both salaried medical officers and private practitioners and reached over 3,500 students. Objectives were to increase the awareness levels of STD, to encourage early medical intervention and to establish a STD telephone enquiry service. Prior to the programme, knowledge of STD was very low, with 86.5 per cent of respondents unable to answer a total of 15 simple questions correctly. This improved after the sessions when 39.6 per cent of students failed to answer the same 15 questions correctly. During the programme, a total of 117 people sought medical intervention and 699 telephone enquiries were registered.