Opening Lines Of Patient Communication (NAPSA)—According to a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive, many Americans indicate they do not feel comfortable raising issues concerning sex and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) with their healthcare providers. A majority of survey respondents said they have not received information about STDs from their healthcare providers (55 percent), and it is a topic that many people may find uncomfortable or embarrassing. Almost two-thirds cited television as a source of we It’s important to discuss all your information about STDs, but health concerns with your healthcare provider. warts. in Women’s Health. Her research on women’s sexual and reproductive health has been widely published in medical journals. eases (NIAID), more than 20 mil- launched 2003 at the 18% National Conference of the American Acad- many patients are unawareof the prevalence, symptomsandrisks of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes external genital Accordingto the NationalInstitute of Allergy and Infectious Dislion Americans are infected with HPV and this disease is on the rise, say health experts. To combat the lack of STD discussion, the “It Doesn't Discriminate” program was produced. It is designed to meet the need for increased awareness of HPV, andfacilitates communication between patients and their healthcare providers. “Genital HPV and external genital warts are a significant public health problem in the U.S. because many people are unaware how prevalent they are,” says Anne Moore, RNC, MSN.“The ‘It Doesn't Discriminate’ program provides the framework for nurse practitioners to discuss these increasingly widespread conditions with their patients, so they can better care for their health.” Moore is a professor of nursing at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and a board member of the National Association of Nurse Practitioners This innovative program emy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and will be presented at the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH) and the American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) meetings. The “It Doesnt Discriminate” program will help foster discussions about HPV and external genital warts including a discussion about the signs, symptoms, causes and treatments of HPV and external genital warts. Although there is no curefor HPV, there are options available that can eliminate visible genital warts. Traditional treatments include laser surgery, freezing or chemical removal. However, there are topical prescription treatments, such as Aldara™ (imiquimod) Cream, 5%, that patients use in the privacy of their own homes. For more information on the facts about and treatment of HPV, visit www.Aldara.com.
