Critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning for advanced clinical practitioners in sexual health

Abstract

During a consultation with a sexual health focus, advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) will consider the next steps following their line on enquiry; appropriate and required investigations, advice or education required and/or referral to other services. Particularly within a sexual health context, the consultation and subsequent steps can be challenging and distressing for the patient, and the ACP must consider their knowledge and experience when caring for a patient in this area. This paper is intended to follow paper one and provide an overview of some key areas to consider following the sexual health history take. This paper is particularly aimed at those ACPs working outside this field of practice, who may not often encounter consultations of a sexual health nature as a first presentation. It does not aim to offer comprehensive guidance and ACPs should always work within their own scope of competence (NMC 2018, HCPC 2016).