CPD frameworks
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Reflection on a journal article
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Reflection of a team, practice or group
External reference on reflection
Reflective practice in health care and how to reflect effectively
Koshy K, Limb C et al. International Journal of Surgical Oncology. 2017 2:e20
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Special interest: Sexual health
Clinical reviews on sexual health
Where do patients seek help for genitourinary symptoms?
25 Nov 2019
The majority of patients with genitourinary (GU) symptoms do not attend sexual health clinic (SHCs), although many would consult their GP, an analysis of Natsal-3 survey data has shown. Natsal-3 is a probability sample survey of sexual behaviour involving 15,162 women and men in Britain aged 16-74 years.
Gonorrhoea may be transmitted by kissing in men who have sex with men
24 Oct 2019
Men who have sex with men (MSM) may transmit oropharyngeal gonorrhoea to partners by kissing, a cross-sectional study from Australia has found.

Antiretroviral treatment in gay men minimises risk of HIV transmission
24 Jun 2019
There is effectively zero risk of HIV transmission in gay men through condomless sex when HIV viral load is adequately suppressed, the findings of the PARTNER2 study, published in the Lancet, suggest.
Adolescents face barriers to accessing sexual health information online
22 May 2019
Teenagers are reticent to search for sexual health information online, a small qualitative study has found.
Orgasm induced by non sexual behaviour
20 Dec 2018
Orgasm may be a neuropsychological process associated with diverse forms of stimulation, according to the findings of a study published in the International Journal of Sexual Health. The investigators analysed comments from 919 individuals who responded to an anonymous post in 2013 on the website PostSecret.com. The individual, unknown to the research team, described having an orgasm during exercise. The respondents posted comments about their own experiences of non genital/non sexual orgasms.
GP training programme improves HIV testing rates
22 Nov 2018
Sexual Health in Practice (SHIP), an educational programme tailored to general practice, increased GPs’ rates of HIV testing.
Intrauterine device use associated with reduced risk of cervical cancer
22 Oct 2018
Women who had used an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) were found to have a lower risk of cancer of the cervix in a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Patients at risk of STIs not attending sexual health services
25 Jul 2018
More than 80% of women and nearly 90% of men who reported having unsafe sex in the past year did not consult sexual health services, findings from the third National Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal 3) study have shown.
Exploring the barriers to fitting IUCDs in primary care
25 Jun 2018
A general practice study has revealed a reluctance among GPs and practice nurses to fit intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCDs). An online survey was sent to 69 practices in the south east of England and 208 individuals responded. More than two-thirds of the respondents were GPs and nearly a third were nurses. When asked about statements relating to potential barriers to providing or recommending IUCDs, respondents who were not trained to fit IUCDs were more likely to identify with more barriers than those who had been trained.
Composition of vaginal microbiota may increase risk of chlamydia infection
22 May 2018
Lactobacillus iners-dominated vaginal microbiota was associated with increased susceptibility to Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women, in a Dutch nested case-control study.

Self-taken swabs can detect bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis
23 Jan 2018
Lower vaginal swabs taken by patients are as reliable as high vaginal swabs taken by clinicians for the detection of vulvovaginal candidiasis or bacterial vaginosis, a UK study has shown.
Dyspareunia in women associated with physical and mental health conditions
23 Nov 2017
The third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles in Britain (Natsal-3) has found a strong association between women reporting painful sex and poor physical health and depressive symptoms.
Hepatitis infection

Should men who have sex with men be screened for hepatitis C?
21 Feb 2013
Reports of acute HCV infection in HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) have emerged where sexual exposure was the only risk factor. In a systematic review, HIV-positive MSM had approximately four times the risk of acquiring acute HCV infection compared with HIV-negative MSM. The data suggest it would be reasonable to consider routine screening for HCV in HIV-positive MSM.
Mildly raised ALT levels may point to hidden hepatitis C
12 Dec 2012
Patients with slightly elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels are at increased risk of hepatitis C infection and should undergo further investigation, a study from the Netherlands has concluded.
High hepatitis C prevalence in injecting drug users
01 Sep 2007
Hepatitis C (HCV) infection is common in illicit drug users, and can lead to severe morbidity and mortality. Although all illicit drug users may put themselves at risk of acquiring HCV infection, a new study confirms that those with a long history of drug use and those who inject (particularly with shared needles or using preparation equipment such as spoons) are most at risk.