Clinical management of chlamydia in general practice: A survey of reported practice

Griffiths, Catherine and Cuddigan, Astrid 2002. Clinical management of chlamydia in general practice: A survey of reported practice. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care 28 (3) , pp. 149-152. 10.1783/147118902101196315

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the UK. Prevalence of the infection in different health care settings has been found to be between 2% and 29% and diagnoses of the infection continue to rise significantly. It is estimated, however, that only 10% of all chlamydial infections are seen and treated in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics. Few data exist about the actual practice patterns of primary care providers in the management of chlamydia. The management of patients identified with the infection within this setting warrants attention. Aims: To determine general practitioners' (GPs') and nurses' reported clinical practice in the management of genital chlamydial infection. To design a needs-based education guideline on the management of chlamydia in rural primary care. Design: An anonymous, confidential, self-administered postal questionnaire was sent to all GPs and cervical cytology practice nurses in 84 practices in Dyfed Powys Health Authority (DPHA) area, Wales, UK. Results: Following two mailings of the survey, responses were obtained from 75/84 practices (response rate 89%). A total of 130/307 GPs (response rate 42%) and 72/152 nurses (response rate 47%) in these practices responded. The data demonstrated that few tests for chlamydia are being carried out in general practice: 42% (55/130) of GPs and 54% (37/72) of nurses reported carrying out between one and four tests a month, and 35% (46/130) of GPs and 29% (21/72) of nurses reported performing less than one test a month. Very few positive results are being obtained. The majority of GPs (72%) and nurses (68%) routinely use the appropriate endocervical swab when testing for chlamydia, however 19% of GPs and 20% of nurses are using either an incorrect wooden-stemmed swab or are taking an inappropriate high vaginal swab. Conclusions: Few chlamydia tests are being performed in primary care in DPHA, Wales. Health professionals in general practice are in need of, and are in favour of, up-to-date training on all aspects of chlamydial identification and management in primary care. Attention needs to be focused upon resources and the paucity of GUM services and their access within the DPHA area.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Healthcare Sciences
Publisher:	BMJ Publishing Group
ISSN:	1471-1893
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	19 November 2018
Date of Acceptance:	26 May 2002
Last Modified:	31 Jan 2020 03:43
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/116921

Citation Data

Cited 9 times in Scopus. View in Scopus. Powered By Scopus® Data

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item