By Michelle Dyoss

Although sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have remained fairly stable, with around 422,000 diagnoses each year, the highest rates continue to be seen in 16-24 year olds. Under-18 conception rates are the lowest recorded since 2005, but the UK still remains higher than a number of other European countries and there is massive variation across the country.

Talk to most young people and ask if they would prefer to visit a GP practice, pharmacy or a sexual health clinic for sexual health services and I can guarantee most would opt for a community pharmacy. They like the anonymity – they could be walking in to buy paracetamol or to pick up granny’s prescription, no one would know they are asking for advice on a sexual health issue.

The value of discretion

Confidentiality is really important to young people: they worry what is going to happen to the information you are writing down, or the data you are inputting into a computer. Let them know at the start of any consultation that the information you will be taking is for data collection purposes only, that personal information will not be shared, and whatever they tell you will not go anywhere else. 

The only time we would break confidentiality is if someone was at risk of harm. Ensure you and your staff are aware of local safeguarding boards and reporting pathways and watch the child sexual exploitation video on CPPE’s website for advice on spotting signs of child sexual exploitation (CSE).

In Dudley, the local pharmaceutical committee and public health have been been running a campaign to promote pharmacy and pharmacy services to young people for several years now. We started by researching what young people thought of community pharmacy and found that very few were aware that they could get advice, support and services for a variety of health issues, including sexual health, from their local pharmacy. 

They believed pharmacists were old men in white coats and a pharmacy was just a shop where you collect medicines when ill. Many were unaware that pharmacies had private consulting rooms where conversations could take place without being overheard. Young people thought that if they told a pharmacist about their sexual health it would get back to their GP or even their mum! 

The Dudley campaign has proved extremely positive. Many young people now visit a pharmacy for advice and services. ‘Think Pharmacy’ continues to be promoted through pharmacists, health champions and other pharmacy staff running regular sessions at local colleges, roadshows and presenting to groups of young people.

Impact your community

Let young people know about the services you provide in your pharmacy. They often don’t want leaflets but may glance at a poster in their college or use social media and google to find out about your services. Business cards are really useful to leave in venues used by young people. Try this simple message: 

“XX Pharmacy offers FREE and confidential sexual health services including emergency contraception, Chlamydia screening, condoms and HIV testing’. Bring this card in to find out more. No appointment needed.

To encourage a response, add a tick box question like: 

I would like more information on:

• Emergency Contraception
• Chlamydia Screening
• Contraception
• Condoms
• HIV testing

Maybe you or one of your staff could do a talk at a school, college or a youth centre. Young people may think they know everything, but they generally don’t. Put things into perspective for them. Explain, for example, that in a room of 30 students, statistically at least three of them may have a Chlamydia infection. 

Reassure them that while many STIs have no signs or symptoms, a positive result can be treated effectively and confidentially. However, if they have unprotected sexual contact they can contract an infection again. Educate them to get tested after each new partner, and promote the use of condoms.

If there are no commissioned services in your area why not consider offering private sexual health services; young people may rather pay for a service than have to access another venue or wait for an appointment.

Young people have different vocabulary to the rest of us; they may use words for body parts you have never heard before, they have different phrases and even different ways of providing information (grunts can sometimes be an acknowledgment they are listening). They may shock you with some things they say.

Practice your poker face and don’t be afraid of asking what they mean if you are unsure, quite often they like to explain further. Always speak with the young person as you would with any adult, with respect and open body language. A good experience means they will return and let their friends know about the ‘fab pharmacist’.