Sexual History Documentation in Pediatric Patients with Technology Dependence

Abstract

Adolescent sexual health documentation reflects the depth of discussion physicians conduct with their patients. Limited studies exist on rates of sexual history documentation in technology-dependent patients. We sought to identify whether treatment gaps exist in a technology-dependent adolescent population. Well-child visits for patients with enterotomy or tracheostomy dependence, 12 to 19 years age, and seen in our urban clinic over a 3-year period (n = 14) were compared with a randomly selected peer group without technology dependence. Documentation of sexual activity, sexual orientation, safe sex and sexually transmitted infection (STI) guidance, and contraception or condom use were noted. Results demonstrate lower rates of documentation in sexual orientation, safe sex and STI guidance, and contraception or condom use in patients with technology dependence when compared with patients without technology dependence. Similar differences were noted in the 16- to 19-year group between the experimental and control groups. No differences were noted between gender and age groups.