Sexual healthcare professionals’ views on the rapid provision of remote services at the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures forced sexual health services to engage with patients remotely. We aimed understand perceived barriers facilitators the provision of digital during first months pandemic. Methods: An online survey qualitative interviews UK healthcare professionals recruited via snowball sampling were conducted in May–July 2020. Results: Amongst 177 respondents (72% female, 86% White, mean age = 46, SD 9), most utilised telephone email as their main communication channels; however, effectiveness varied (94% 66%, respectively). Most agreed that staff needed additional training (89%), available technology was not adequate (66%) hesitant provide consultations (46%). They had positive attitudes towards digitalisation, improving service quality cost-effectiveness but concerned about exacerbating inequalities. Discussion: study identifies a need for clear guidelines around use tools well demand investment hardware software required remote services. Future research needs explore acceptability, safety various narrow inequalities users.