Medical students need sexual medicine education – a survey conducted in Finnish medical faculties

Background . Physicians encounter patients with sexual problems in several specialties. The purpose of our study was to assess the education in sexual medicine in the Finnish medical schools.

Methods . A questionnaire was sent to 562 final year medical students (autumn 2018 - spring 2019) of whom 233 replied (response rate 41.5%).

Results . More than half of the students were interested in education in sexual medicine although 71% reported the amount being insufficient. The education took place mainly in the obstetrics and gynaecology course, but also some in psychiatry, general medicine, dermatology and surgery. Both a separate course in sexual medicine and integrated teaching were considered good teaching methods, except in the University of Tampere where almost all participants preferred integrated teaching.

Conclusions . The amount of sexual medicine education should be increased and expanded in the medical degree curriculum. The education could be implemented as an integrated course or a separate course. In addition, sexual medicine education in various universities should be standardized.

Lotta Kevo

M.D.

University of Turku

Sanna-Mari Manninen

Katja Kero

Päivi Polo