Project report – Let’s Talk About Sex – Reloaded (LTAS)
LTAS in medical education
Since its launch in 2015, around 300 medical students at the University of Cologne have taken part in the communication training course “Let’s Talk About Sex” (LTAS). The training program was originally launched by medical student Priv.-Doz. Dr. Philipp Linde in cooperation with the “Let's Talk About Sex” project of Deutsche Aidshilfe (DAH) at the Clinic for Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy (University Hospital Cologne).
Today, LTAS is offered each semester by Dr. Sebastian Albers and Priv.-Doz. Dr. Philipp Linde at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Cologne. Both were awarded the “Teaching Prize” by the Human Medicine Student Council for their work.
The project's overarching goal is to promote sexual and psychosocial health, particularly (but not exclusively) among groups that are particularly affected by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). These include MSM, people with frequently changing partners, people with HIV, people who use drugs, other “sexual minorities,” and young people.
The focus is on improving HIV/STI prevention in doctors' offices and clinics, as well as in medical education, training, and continuing education. A key starting point is the question of how sexuality, HIV/STI, and different lifestyles can be addressed in medical communication.
The teaching modules prepare prospective doctors to talk about sexuality in a sensitive and competent manner – a topic that requires special communication skills in many clinical situations. Among other things, the modules cover the diagnosis and treatment of HIV and other STIs, insights into the lives of people with HIV, and patient-oriented communication skills in role-playing exercises.
The focus is particularly on:
- the competence to conduct a sexual history that takes into account different sexual lifestyles and identities – including practical testing
- learning experiences that reveal one's own communicative insecurities and help to improve them in a targeted manner
- (where necessary) updating clinical knowledge on diagnosis/treatment, transmission routes, and prevention methods for HIV/STIs
- knowledge about the living environments of people with HIV and other target groups relevant to prevention, including education about discrimination – especially in the healthcare system
- better networking of physicians with regional AIDS service organizations and other counseling centers
Recognition and transfer
LTAS is now also recognized nationally: The seminar has been included in the best practice database (Longkomm Toolbox) of the National Competence-Based Learning Objectives Catalog for Medicine (NKLM) and in the Compendium of best practices in the health sector response to HIV in the WHO European Region of the World Health Organization (WHO).
With the retirement of Prof. Dr. Christian Albus, the training was transferred to the Clinic and Polyclinic for Radiation Oncology, Cyberknife and Radiation Therapy (University Hospital Cologne) in the winter semester 2025/26, where Priv.-Doz. Dr. Philipp Linde now works as a senior physician and teaching coordinator.
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Stephanie Stock (Vice Dean for Teaching and Studies) emphasizes the importance of the program: “With LTAS, we are strengthening patient-centered communication in all its diversity – a core objective of our curriculum.”
Next date
The LTAS training takes place once per semester as a full-day event at the Clinic and Polyclinic for Radiation Oncology, Cyberknife and Radiation Therapy. Registration is via ILIAS/KLIPS.