Most SHC professionals who had completed SEXIT training used the method regularly and perceived the method as valuable and facilitating discussions about sexual ill health and experiences of violence with pupils, though there are indications that SHC services fail to identify particularly at-risk young people.
61% of SHC professionals who completed SEXIT training went on to use SEXIT in their work.
63% of SEXIT users incorporated the method into regular health dialogues with pupils.
SEXIT was perceived as appropriate and useful, helping SHC professionals better understand pupils' situations.
Being too time-consuming was identified as a perceived objection to using SEXIT.
Structurally marginalised and vulnerable youths were found to be excluded from SEXIT dialogues, indicating persistent sexual health inequity.
The study validated SEXIT as a method applicable in the school health care setting for the first time.
This research suggests that a structured tool called SEXIT (SEXual health Identification Tool), originally developed for other healthcare settings, can be successfully adopted in Swedish school health care to help nurses and other professionals have conversations with students about sexual health and experiences of violence. Of the 115 school health professionals who had been trained in SEXIT and responded to the survey, 70 (61%) were actively using it, and most of those used it during routine health check-in conversations with students. Professionals generally felt the tool helped them better understand students' situations and made it easier to broach sensitive topics that both students and staff might otherwise avoid. However, the research also highlights a significant concern: not all professionals used SEXIT with every student, and the study found signs that some of the most vulnerable young people — those who are structurally marginalized — were being left out of these conversations. This means the students who might most benefit from being asked about sexual health and violence experiences may be the least likely to be reached. Some professionals also cited time constraints as a barrier to using the tool. This research matters because it suggests that structured tools like SEXIT can help school health professionals address difficult but important topics with young people, potentially identifying those experiencing sexual ill health or violence earlier. At the same time, the finding that at-risk youth may be systematically excluded points to a need for more intentional, universal implementation to ensure equitable access to these health conversations for all students.
Persson P, Areskoug Josefsson K, Lindroth M, Hammarström S. (2026). Implementation Patterns and Perceived Value of the SEXIT Method in School Health Care.. Journal of clinical nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.70135