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The emergence of ethical issues in the provision of online sexual health outreach for gay, bisexual, two-spirit and other men who have sex with men: perspectives of online outreach workers.
- Source :
- BMC Medical Ethics; 11/3/2017, Vol. 18, p1-12, 12p
- Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>Mobile applications and socio-sexual networking websites are used by outreach workers to respond synchronously to questions and provide information, resources, and referrals on sexual health and STI/HIV prevention, testing, and care to gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GB2M). This exploratory study examined ethical issues identified by online outreach workers who conduct online sexual health outreach for GB2M.<bold>Methods: </bold>Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted between November 2013 and April 2014 with online providers and managers (n = 22) to explore the benefits, challenges, and ethical implications of delivering online outreach services in Ontario, Canada. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analyses were conducted, and member-checking, analyses by multiple coders, and peer debriefing supported validity and reliability.<bold>Results: </bold>Four themes emerged on the ethical queries of providing online sexual health outreach for GB2M: (a) managing personal and professional boundaries with clients; (b) disclosing personal or identifiable information to clients; (c) maintaining client confidentiality and anonymity; and (d) security and data storage measures of online information. Participants illustrated familiarity with potential ethical challenges, and discussed ways in which they seek to mitigate and prevent ethical conflict.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Implications of this analysis for outreach workers, researchers, bioethicists, and policy-makers are to: (1) understand ethical complexities associated with online HIV prevention and outreach for GB2M; (2) foster dialogue to recognize and address potential ethical conflict; and (3) identify competencies and skills to mitigate risk and promote responsive and accessible online HIV outreach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- MEN who have sex with men
MOBILE apps
SEXUAL health
WEBSITES
HIV prevention
PREVENTION of sexually transmitted diseases
SEXUALLY transmitted disease treatment
HEALTH attitudes
HEALTH education
HEALTH services accessibility
HOMOSEXUALITY
INTERNET
INTERVIEWING
MEDICAL ethics
MEDICAL referrals
PRIVACY
PUBLIC relations
QUALITATIVE research
EVALUATION of human services programs
ETHICS
PSYCHOLOGY
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14726939
- Volume :
- 18
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- BMC Medical Ethics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 126070312
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-017-0216-7