TY - JOUR
PY - 2019//
TI - Emerging adults' discussion of substance use and sexual behavior with providers
JO - Journal of health communication
A1 - Blevins, Claire E.
A1 - Anderson, Bradley J.
A1 - Caviness, Celeste M.
A1 - Herman, Debra S.
A1 - Stein, Michael D.
SP - 121
EP - 128
VL - 24
IS - 2
N2 - Emerging adulthood (ages 18-25) is a time of increased autonomy and associated with a high rate of risky substance use and sexual behavior. As emerging adults (EA) increasingly have more independence, they have the ability to make health decisions, including whether to see a provider (primary care (PCP) and/or gynecologist (GYN)) and whether to discuss substance use and sexual behavior. The current study aimed to determine: (1) factors associated with PCP and GYN health-care seeking by sexually active EA who use alcohol and/or marijuana; (2) gender differences in substance use and sexual risk topics initiated by providers; (3) whether PCPs compared to GYNs discuss different topics with women. Alcohol and/or marijuana-using, sexually active EA (n = 500) were recruited as part of a health behaviors study. Among participants, 39% did not see a PCP in the previous year. Women, White individuals, and EA with health insurance were most likely to attend a PCP appointment. Even among participants who saw a provider, many participants reported that providers did not initiate a discussion about substance use (approximately half discussed substance use) and sexual behavior (about half discussed STI history, two-thirds discussed condom use, and three-quarters discussed sexual partners). Among women with a PCP and GYN provider, discussions on substance use were more likely to be initiated by a PCP while sexual issues were more likely to be initiated by a GYN. Thus, even among sexually active, substance-using EA, central topics - specifically substance use and sexual behavior - are not routinely brought up by providers. Language: en
LA - en
SN - 1081-0730
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2019.1583700
ID - ref1
ER -