- Email: [email protected]
Call for Papers- Special Issue on Patient-Provider Communication About Reproductive Health
Patient Education and Counseling 76 (2009) 292
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Patient Education and Counseling j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e l s e v i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / p a t e d u c o u
Call for Papers
Special Issue on Patient-Provider Communication About Reproductive Health Patient Education and Counseling invites the submission of manuscripts for a special issue on communication about reproductive health. As sexuality affects multiple aspects of a person’s psychological, social and physical health, health care providers and patients across a range of clinical areas have frequent cause to communicate about issues related to sexuality and fertility. Examples of these discussions include consultations about the choice of a contraceptive method, counseling in the context of a pregnancy failure, discussion and decision-making about the risks of sexually transmitted infection, including HIV test counseling, and communication about sexual function in the context of chronic diseases. Communication in this area presents unique challenges to both patients and providers due to the societal and personal contexts in which discussions of sexuality and reproduction take place. Barriers to open communication include differences in cultural or religious backgrounds between patient and provider, taboos against discussing sex and sexuality, real or perceived societal stigma regarding specific sexual practices, providers’ fears that they lack the knowledge or skills to help patients, and the differential in power which is often present in the provider-patient relationship.1-5 Overcoming these barriers to communication and providing culturally appropriate, sensitive, and helpful care to patients about reproductive health concerns is essential to appropriate medical care and attention to sexual health needs. To improve understanding of how health care providers and patients communicate about reproductive health and how this communication can be improved, we welcome original work addressing all facets of communication with patients around reproductive health. The use of qualitative and mixed methodologies is encouraged, and papers addressing communication studies in industrialized countries and the developing
doi:10.1016/S0738-3991(09)00305-X
world are of interest. Original research, reviews of specific topic areas, and commentaries about issues such as the application of communication theory to communication about sexual and reproductive health will be considered. We specifically encourage manuscripts that give attention to the application of patient-centered principles. Given the socially complicated context of sexuality, there are ample theoretical grounds to assume that patientcentered care is important in this area, but this has not been well studied to date. Abstracts will be reviewed and authors notified of whether they are invited to submit full manuscripts. These manuscripts will then be reviewed, and accepted papers will be published in a special issue of PEC in 2010 (December). Abstracts of potential articles for the special issue may be submitted before October 01 2009 to Dr. Christine Dehlendorf. Full manuscripts should be submitted before February 01 2010. 1.
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5.
Mittman IS, Bowie JV, Maman S. Exploring the discourse between genetic counselors and Orthodox Jewish community members related to reproductive genetic technology. Patient Educ Couns 2007;65:230–6. Nachtigall RD, Castrillo M, Shah N, Turner D, Harrington J, Jackson R. The challenge of providing infertility services to a low-income immigrant Latino population. Fertil Steril (in press). Bharat S, Mahendra VS. Meeting the sexual and reproductive health needs of people living with HIV: challenges for health care providers. Reprod Health Matters 2007;15:93–112. Hobcraft G, Baker T. Special needs of adolescent and young women in accessing reproductive health: promoting partnerships between young people and health care providers. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2006;94: 350–6. Surman E. Challenges and dilemmas in counselling young women on pregnancy options. Reprod Health Matters 2001;9:153–9.
Christine Dehlendorf 995 Potrero Avenue Ward 83 San Francisco CA 94110, USA [email protected]
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Patient Education and Counseling j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e l s e v i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / p a t e d u c o u
Call for Papers
Special Issue on Patient-Provider Communication About Reproductive Health Patient Education and Counseling invites the submission of manuscripts for a special issue on communication about reproductive health. As sexuality affects multiple aspects of a person’s psychological, social and physical health, health care providers and patients across a range of clinical areas have frequent cause to communicate about issues related to sexuality and fertility. Examples of these discussions include consultations about the choice of a contraceptive method, counseling in the context of a pregnancy failure, discussion and decision-making about the risks of sexually transmitted infection, including HIV test counseling, and communication about sexual function in the context of chronic diseases. Communication in this area presents unique challenges to both patients and providers due to the societal and personal contexts in which discussions of sexuality and reproduction take place. Barriers to open communication include differences in cultural or religious backgrounds between patient and provider, taboos against discussing sex and sexuality, real or perceived societal stigma regarding specific sexual practices, providers’ fears that they lack the knowledge or skills to help patients, and the differential in power which is often present in the provider-patient relationship.1-5 Overcoming these barriers to communication and providing culturally appropriate, sensitive, and helpful care to patients about reproductive health concerns is essential to appropriate medical care and attention to sexual health needs. To improve understanding of how health care providers and patients communicate about reproductive health and how this communication can be improved, we welcome original work addressing all facets of communication with patients around reproductive health. The use of qualitative and mixed methodologies is encouraged, and papers addressing communication studies in industrialized countries and the developing
doi:10.1016/S0738-3991(09)00305-X
world are of interest. Original research, reviews of specific topic areas, and commentaries about issues such as the application of communication theory to communication about sexual and reproductive health will be considered. We specifically encourage manuscripts that give attention to the application of patient-centered principles. Given the socially complicated context of sexuality, there are ample theoretical grounds to assume that patientcentered care is important in this area, but this has not been well studied to date. Abstracts will be reviewed and authors notified of whether they are invited to submit full manuscripts. These manuscripts will then be reviewed, and accepted papers will be published in a special issue of PEC in 2010 (December). Abstracts of potential articles for the special issue may be submitted before October 01 2009 to Dr. Christine Dehlendorf. Full manuscripts should be submitted before February 01 2010. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Mittman IS, Bowie JV, Maman S. Exploring the discourse between genetic counselors and Orthodox Jewish community members related to reproductive genetic technology. Patient Educ Couns 2007;65:230–6. Nachtigall RD, Castrillo M, Shah N, Turner D, Harrington J, Jackson R. The challenge of providing infertility services to a low-income immigrant Latino population. Fertil Steril (in press). Bharat S, Mahendra VS. Meeting the sexual and reproductive health needs of people living with HIV: challenges for health care providers. Reprod Health Matters 2007;15:93–112. Hobcraft G, Baker T. Special needs of adolescent and young women in accessing reproductive health: promoting partnerships between young people and health care providers. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2006;94: 350–6. Surman E. Challenges and dilemmas in counselling young women on pregnancy options. Reprod Health Matters 2001;9:153–9.
Christine Dehlendorf 995 Potrero Avenue Ward 83 San Francisco CA 94110, USA [email protected]