UK national guideline on safer sex advice
1 April 2011. Related: BHIVA news.
The new UK National Guideline on Safer Sex Advice are online until 31 May 2011 for comments.
http://www.bhiva.org/SaferSexAdviceConsultation.aspx.
The objective of this document is to provide guidance for practitioners in Level 3 Genitourinary medicine (GUM) services (Level 5 in Scotland) on safer sex advice provided in sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV management consultations. The guideline consists of:
- Recommendations on the format and delivery of brief behaviour change interventions deliverable in GUM clinics
- Recommendations on the content of safer sex advice given to individuals at continued risk of STI
- Additional advice to be provided for those living with HIV, or from groups with higher rates of HIV incidence.
Much of the guidance is applicable in other sexual health and general practice settings, including HIV care services. The evidence base for the recommendations will be summarised in an accompanying on-line document. Issues relating to implementation of behaviour change interventions in clinics, such as designing service structures and care pathways or the competencies required in different multidisciplinary staff groups, are addressed in British Psychological Society Good Practice Guidelines.
The Clinical Effectiveness Group of BASHH and BHIVA is grateful for all comments, which will be reviewed before publication.