Errors and predictors of confidence in condom use amongst young Australians attending a music festival

Objectives: To determine the confidence and ability to use condoms correctly and consistently and the predictors of confidence in young Australians attending a festival. Methods: 288 young people aged 18 to 29 attending a mixed-genre music festival completed a survey measuring demographics, self-reported confidence using condoms, ability to use condoms, and issues experienced when using condoms in the past 12 months. Results: Self-reported confidence using condoms was high (77%). Multivariate analyses showed confidence was associated with being male ( < 0.001) and having had five or more lifetime sexual partners ( = 0.038). Reading packet instructions was associated with increased condom use confidence ( = 0.011). Amongst participants who had used a condom in the last year, 37% had experienced the condom breaking and 48% had experienced the condom slipping off during intercourse and 51% when withdrawing the penis after sex. Conclusion: This population of young people are experiencing high rates of condom failures and are using them inconsistently or incorrectly, demonstrating the need to improve attitudes, behaviour, and knowledge about correct and consistent condom usage. There is a need to empower young Australians, particularly females, with knowledge and confidence in order to improve condom use self-efficacy

A novel method of treating and rehabilitating patients with flexor tendon injuries to the lesser toes

Descriptions of the management of lesser toe flexor tendon injuries are scarce in the literature. Lesser toe injuries and deformities can result in problems with footwear, function and aesthetics, therefore optimal management is key. We present a case of injury to the flexor digitorum brevis and longus to the third toe, and discuss the subsequent surgical management and novel method of rehabilitating the injury, using principles gleaned from hand surgical practice. We anticipate superior outcomes for patients being managed with this surgical and postoperative protocol as compared to alternative repairs and static immobilization