The perceived impact of interprofessional information sharing on young people about their sexual healthcare

ABSTRACT

This article presents the results from an analysis of data from service providers and young adults who were formerly in state care about how information about the sexual health of young people in state care is managed. In particular, the analysis focuses on the perceived impact of information sharing between professionals on young people. Twenty-two service providers from a range of professions including social work, nursing and psychology, and 19 young people aged 18–22 years who were formerly in state care participated in the study. A qualitative approach was employed in which participants were interviewed in depth and data were analysed using modified analytical induction (Bogdan & Biklen, 2007). Findings suggest that within the care system in which service provider participants worked it was standard practice that sensitive information about a young person’s sexual health would be shared across team members, even where there appeared to be no child protection issues. However, the accounts of the young people indicated that they experienced the sharing of information in this way as an invasion of their privacy. An unintended outcome of a high level of information sharing within teams is that the privacy of the young person in care is compromised in a way that is not likely to arise in the case of young people who are not in care. This may deter young people from availing themselves of the sexual health services.

KEYWORDS:

• Confidentiality
• health and social care
• interprofessional care
• looked-after young people
• qualitative method
• sexual health
• young people in state care

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Funding

The authors express their thanks to the Health Service Executive Crisis Pregnancy Programme for funding this study. The opinions expressed in this publication are of the researchers and are not necessarily those of the sponsor, the Health Service Executive Crisis Pregnancy Programme.

Notes

^1. In Ireland, a person is categorised as a child until he or she reaches the age of 18 years, so young people in receipt of state care in their teen years remain so until the age of 18. In addition, young adults who were formerly in care as children may receive aftercare services, that is, support up to the age of 21 years. Currently, there is a proposal to extend this to 23 years (Department of Children & Youth Affairs, 2014).

^2. “Interdisciplinary” was not defined in this document and was used in the context of professionals coordinating their work practices.

^3. Pseudonyms are used throughout.

Additional information

Funding

The authors express their thanks to the Health Service Executive Crisis Pregnancy Programme for funding this study. The opinions expressed in this publication are of the researchers and are not necessarily those of the sponsor, the Health Service Executive Crisis Pregnancy Programme.