Abstract
The SHIFT project aims to empower people aged over 45 to participate in sexual health services and improve their sexual health and wellbeing, with an additional and specifically adapted focus on socio-economically disadvantaged groups. The empowerment will avoid assumption by using insight gathering and testing existing evidence. In co-creating a service redesign, the healthcare systems currently in place will be adapted to provide services that are properly suited to these groups. Consequently, SHIFT will improve awareness in the target groups and access to sexual health services, therefore increasing wellbeing, testing for STIs and HIV and avoidance of undiagnosed communicable STIs and HIV amongst the over 45s and socio-economically disadvantaged groups. This will lead to improving the quality of life of people aged over 45 (with specific focus on vulnerable groups) and a decrease in health inequalities.
This research will lead to a co-created and piloted model for future service provision to improve sexual health amongst the target groups, including techniques for engaging with hard-to-reach groups.
METRO is working with the Health and Europe Centre on this research project, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund.