Complaints spur organizational overhaul for sexual health seminars
By Deanna Kerslake, Staff Writer
April 16, 2007 | 11:05 a.m.
I already know all of this. Why does everyone have to take it? Apparently, Ohio University students know their stuff about sex — at least this was one argument that birthed an organizational overhaul for sexual health seminars at Hudson Health Center.
A committee met five times from November '06 to March '07 in an attempt to address complaints surrounding the sexual health seminars, which unless waived, a woman must take in order to receive oral contraception or an annual gynecology exam.
According to Vice President for Student Affairs Kent Smith, who commissioned the Sexual Health Seminar Review Committee, a female student brought up concerns at the first town hall meeting in October about the way sexual health seminars were conducted. She felt that information was not clear in terms of when they were offered or how a student can waive the seminar, Smith said.
“The committee found that this student’s views were warranted and that she was absolutely right, it was difficult to find the information,” Smith said.
Other complaints stemmed from graduate students such as why older, more experienced women had to take the same seminar as an 18-year-old, said Women’s Affairs Commissioner for Student Senate and Sexual Health Seminar Review Committee member sophomore Lee Robbins. It was our goal to make the seminars more LBGT, age, international student and gender inclusive, Robbins said.
Recommendations provided by the committee included developing a more effective communication plan by clarifying the degree to which the seminar is required and the rationale behind it, as well as clarifying the criteria for the waiver process. Robbins said that this was a key goal since she felt that there was a lot of mystery around the seminars and that many students didn’t know what they really were or if they had to take them.
It was also suggested to refine the seminar into two parts, the first part being for students who are requesting a gynecological examination only and have never previously had one and the second for students who are seeking prescription contraceptives.
The committee suggested to alter the times and days seminars are offered and to implement an ongoing formal evaluation process in consultation with students in health communication. The committee hoped to see brief, yet comprehensive content on contraception and STI’s on Hudson’s Web site and suggested developing a sexual health seminar for male students.
“Though we could offer recommendations, Hudson will determine exactly how to implement them,” Robbins said. “We don’t want to step on their toes; they’re the professionals and they know how to handle it.”
Most of the recommendations have already gone into effect, Smith said. The Web site has been updated with the addition of a link to Hudson Health Services added directly to the front page of the student section of the OU Web site. The Hudson Health center page has been redesigned with the seminar schedule posted prominently. The addition of a description of the seminar and its purpose, along with a description of the waiver process, has also been added.
A pilot program of the suggested two-tier seminar process will be implemented in the fall. It will include an evaluative pre-test and post-test for the seminars in order to get the opinions of students before and after they experience it, said Director of Health Education and Wellness and committee member Char Kopchick.
Though the two-tier program will soon be underway, Kopchick expressed doubt that the development of a men’s sexual health seminar would be possible due to budget cuts. She said that unless the department received more money than it does now, “it’s not going to happen.”
Smith disagreed saying, “I’m not going to hide behind a budget. Health and wellness has to be an important issue. I don’t believe the budget will hinder us from having a seminar for male students about health and wellness. At least at this point I am not anticipating it will.”
Though some originally wanted to completely stop the seminars that have been used for over 30 years, this was dispelled early on in discussion, Kopchick said.
“The intent of the seminar is really to give individuals the correct, updated information so they can make informed decisions regarding their reproductive health,” Kopchick said.
Currently, the initial part of the seminar teaches how to have a good dialogue with your health care provider and provides information over what will occur during an exam, Kopchick said. The second part of the seminar provides information on hormone therapy treatments (contraception) and general things that women can do to keep their reproductive system healthy.
Beyond the distribution of health information, the format of the mandatory seminar is used to gain efficiency.
Physicians are ethically responsible for providing their patients with this information, Kopchick said. However, there isn’t enough time for each physician to do so for each patient in a university setting.
“When a person goes through the seminar, the health care providers are insured that they are given the same information. They know they don’t have to take the time to go over that and that a woman can then ask informed questions,” Kopchick said.
Robbins agreed saying that the seminars “are the best way that Hudson can communicate the necessary information to the most numbers — they can’t do it all one-on-one.”
Other universities in Ohio, such as Miami University, require similar information sessions before an exam can be scheduled or contraceptives prescribed. At Bowling Green State University, each student must meet one-on-one with a nurse practitioner. The system OU has is a lot more efficient because we can see at least 15 people at a time, Kopchick said.