Table 3:
Identified clusters of barriers to discussing sexuality with healthcare providers, with exemplars by group
| GROUP | EXEMPLAR(S) | NUMBER OF RESPONSES IN CLUSTER |
|---|---|---|
| JUDGMENT | - “I feel that I will be judged for my sexual habits.” - “I feel worried and/or embarrassed that they will tell me I am doing something wrong.” - “Their facial expressions.” |
121 |
| IT’S NOT DIFFICULT | - “It’s not difficult for me; they know what they’re talking about and will not judge me.” - “It’s not difficult for me; I like to be as honest as possible with my doctors.” |
54 |
| FEAR | - “Fear of sounding dumb.” “I get worried they will tell my parents.” |
127 |
| AWKWARDNESS | - “Awkwardness due to age gap.” - “There’s always something about the professional that makes me feel uncomfortable.” |
175 |
| EMBARRASSMENT | - “It’s embarrassing.” - “Embarrassment. |
69 |
| NOTHING | - “Nothing.” - “None” |
80 |
| LACK OF TRUST | - “Talking to someone you don’t know that well.” - “They are unfamiliar, so visits are impersonal.” - “Because you don’t have a deep connection with them.” - “I get worried they will tell my parents since I still go to a pediatrician.” |
53 |
| X (BLANK) | - “X” (response left blank, participant clicked through to next question) | 168 |