What Does the Term 'Gay Community' Mean to You - Understandings Among Gay Men in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire

No abstract available

'What Does 'Gay Community' Mean to You?' : A Pilot Study Exploring Understandings Among Gay Men in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire

No abstract available

'Personal Communities' and Safer Sex: A Qualitative Study of Young Gay and Bisexual Men in Scotland

Successful HIV prevention among gay men has been linked to strong 'community' responses to HIV and adherence to safer sex practices. Ambivalence about the role of community has been identified among young gay men, and recent research has suggested that the concept of 'personal communities' may offer an alternative way of understanding sources of support and identification among gay men. This PhD research aimed to explore young gay and bisexual men's 'personal communities', and the role those within them (e.g. friends, family, partners and colleagues) may play in shaping men’s safe-sex strategies. Thirty young gay and bisexual men, aged 18-29, took part in in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Interviews focused on exploring men's 'personal communities', and how they understand and negotiate safe(r) sex as part of sexual practice. Preliminary analysis suggests that men's personal communities are diverse and complex, highlighting the different roles that individuals within them may play in informing men's approaches to safer sex. How men think about and manage their sexual identity, particularly in the context of 'gay community', appears to play a role in how men discuss sexual health and safer sex. Areas of convergence and divergence between men's experiences of 'gay community/ies' and their own 'personal community' can be seen, suggesting the importance of supportive relationships with individuals, and connections with 'community', and community organisations. The implications for HIV prevention are explored with particular reference to whether different types of intervention are needed to address various parts of men's 'personal communities'

What Does the Term 'Gay Community' Mean to You?" - Understandings Among Gay Men in Scotland

No abstract available

What Does the Term 'Gay Community' Mean to You?" - Understandings Among Gay Men in Scotland

No abstract available

'Personal Communities' and Safer Sex: A Qualitative Study of Young Gay and Bisexual Men in Scotland

Successful HIV prevention among gay men has been linked to strong 'community' responses to HIV and adherence to safer sex practices. Ambivalence about the role of community has been identified among young gay men, and recent research has suggested that the concept of 'personal communities' may offer an alternative way of understanding sources of support and identification among gay men. This PhD research aimed to explore young gay and bisexual men's 'personal communities', and the role those within them (e.g. friends, family, partners and colleagues) may play in shaping men’s safe-sex strategies. Thirty young gay and bisexual men, aged 18-29, took part in in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Interviews focused on exploring men's 'personal communities', and how they understand and negotiate safe(r) sex as part of sexual practice. Preliminary analysis suggests that men's personal communities are diverse and complex, highlighting the different roles that individuals within them may play in informing men's approaches to safer sex. How men think about and manage their sexual identity, particularly in the context of 'gay community', appears to play a role in how men discuss sexual health and safer sex. Areas of convergence and divergence between men's experiences of 'gay community/ies' and their own 'personal community' can be seen, suggesting the importance of supportive relationships with individuals, and connections with 'community', and community organisations. The implications for HIV prevention are explored with particular reference to whether different types of intervention are needed to address various parts of men's 'personal communities'

What Does the Term 'Gay Community' Mean to You - Understandings Among Gay Men in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire

No abstract available

'What Does 'Gay Community' Mean to You?' : A Pilot Study Exploring Understandings Among Gay Men in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire

No abstract available

A qualitative study of abortion care providers’ perspectives on telemedicine medical abortion provision in the context of COVID-19

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine for medical abortion care was rapidly introduced in Great Britain in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A growing body of literature demonstrates that telemedicine abortion care is safe, effective and highly acceptable to patients. Less is known about the perspectives of abortion care providers (ACPs). METHODS: Qualitative research within the telemedicine abortion service in Lothian (Edinburgh and surrounding region), UK. We conducted qualitative in-depth interviews with ACPs between May and July 2020 (doctors, n=6; nurses, n=10) and analysed the data thematically. RESULTS: We present three themes from our qualitative analysis: (1) Selective use of ultrasound – the move away from routine ultrasound for determination of gestational age was generally viewed positively. Initial anxiety about non-detection of ectopic pregnancy and later gestations was expressed by some ACPs, but concerns were addressed through clinical practice and support structures within the clinic. (2) Identifying safeguarding issues – in the absence of visual cues some ACPs reported concerns about their ability to identify safeguarding issues, specifically domestic violence. Conversely it was acknowledged that teleconsultations may improve detection of this in some situations. (3) Provision of information during the consultation – telephone consultations were considered more focused than in-person consultations and formed only part of the overall ‘package’ of information provided to patients, supplemented by online and written information. CONCLUSIONS: ACPs providing telemedicine abortion care value this option for patients and believe it should remain beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Safeguarding patients and the selective use of ultrasound can be initially challenging; however, with experience, staff confidence improves