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Table 1 Comparison of patients at risk versus patients not at risk, in % (Lausanne, 2005-2006)

From: Sexual behaviour of men that consulted in medical outpatient clinics in Western Switzerland from 2005-2006: risk levels unknown to doctors?

Variables

All

Risk

No risk

p value§

Recruitment site (N = 1431)

    

   General/internal medicine and emergencies*

40.0

37.5

40.4

< 0.001

   Dental clinic

3.2

2.1

3.4

 

   Travel clinic

31.6

19.3

33.6

 

   Anonymous HIV testing

18.0

36.5

14.3

 

   Private practitioner**

7.8

4.7

8.3

 

Socio-demographic characteristics

    

Median age (N = 1413)

34

31

35

 

Mean age

37.6

33.5

38.4

< 0.001

Education (N = 1418)

    

   Compulsory school

7.3

6.3

7.5

0.100

   Vocational training

26.7

34.0

25.6

 

   Technical school

21.5

18.3

22.0

 

   University

44.4

41.4

44.9

 

Nationality (N = 1413)

    

   Swiss

69.6

64.4

70.5

0.080

   European

19.7

22.5

19.2

 

   African

5.5

8.9

5.0

 

   Other

5.2

4.2

5.3

 

Religion (N = 1410)

    

   Protestant

33.1

24.2

34.5

0.011

   Catholic

36.9

36.8

36.9

 

   Muslim

5.1

4.7

5.2

 

   Other

3.5

5.3

3.3

 

   Without

21.3

28.9

20.2

 

Employment status (N = 1413)

    

   Working

77.9

82.2

77.3

0.098

   Not working

17.0

15.7

17.2

 

   Pensioned

5.1

2.1

5.6

 

Living situation (N = 1411)

    

   Living with partner

53.3

20.6

58.3

< 0.001

   Living alone with a partner elsewhere

24.1

32.8

22.7

 

   Living alone

22.6

46.6

18.9

 

Sexual behaviour

    

Age at first sexual intercourse*** (N = 1387): under 16 years old

18.3

25.0

17.3

0.011

Ever had same sex sexual intercourse (N = 1416) yes

11.4

21.9

9.8

< 0.001

Had sexual concurrency in the last 12 months (N = 1276) yes

26.6

69.8

20.4

< 0.001

Median N of partners in the last 12 months (N = 1390)

Mean N of partners in the last 12 months

1

2.9

4

6.4

1

2.4

< 0.001

Any STI symptoms in the last 12 months**** (N = 1370) yes

8.8

16.0

7.7

< 0.001

HIV test, information and discussion

    

Ever been tested for HIV(N = 1402) yes

65.8

77.5

63.9

< 0.001

Feel well/rather well informed about HIV/AIDS (N = 1352) yes

92.3

86.4

93.2

0.001

Feel well/rather well informed about other STI (N = 1392) yes

43.2

33.3

44.7

0.003

Wish to be asked questions about sexual history by the doctor ***** (N = 1412) Yes/rather yes

90.9

92.1

90.8

0.546

Ever discussed sexual issues with a doctor (N = 1413) yes

61.4

64.9

60.8

0.277

Ever been advised on how to avoid STI by a doctor (N = 1412) yes

37.4

46.6

36.0

0.005

  1. * General consultation and emergencies in the public clinic + emergencies in the outpatient private clinic
  2. ** The five GPs in the private outpatient clinic
  3. *** No definition of the term "sexual intercourse" was given to the patient
  4. **** "During the past 12 months, have you experienced any pain when urinating, any discharge from your penis, or ulcers on your genitals"
  5. ***** "Would you like your doctor to ask you this type of question (on your sexual history) in order to give you advice that is better suited to your circumstances"
  6. § Pearson's Chi-square, except for mean age and mean number of partners in the last 12 months, where the t-test was used
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