Sexual Health Encounters: Competence and Barriers Among Family Medicine Residents and Primary Care Physicians of the National Guard in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia

Overview

Journal Cureus

Date 2025 Feb 3

PMID 39897289

Authors

Sameer Rizg

Sultan A Almuntashiri

Saleh Alamri

Sultan Alsehli

Hamzah Alharbi

Abdulelah Gadah

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aim: The study aimed to survey the self-reported competence of primary care physicians in the National Guard in addressing and treating sexual health issues at King Abdulaziz Medical City Primary Health Care (PHC) centers in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia.

Method: In this cross-sectional study, the region was represented by three cities as follows: three PHC centers from Jeddah City (Iskan PHC Center (King Faisal Residential City), Specialized Poly Clinic PHC Center, and Bahra PHC Center at National Guard Hospital), one PHC center from Taif City (Iskan PHC Center (King Khalid Residential City)), and one PHC center from Makkah City (Al-Sharaie PHC Center). A total of 93 participants were included in this study.

Results: This study revealed that nearly half of the participants (40, 43%) reported having moderate levels of perceived competence, while nearly half (39, 41.9%) noted moderate barriers to addressing sexual health issues.

Conclusion: Evidence of moderate levels of perceived competence and barriers suggests the need to address sexual health education.

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