Article Text

This article has a correction. Please see:

Download PDFPDF
The management of sexually transmitted infections by Australian general practitioners
  1. V J Johnston1,
  2. H Britt2,
  3. Y Pan2,
  4. A Mindel1
  1. 1Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Centre (STIRC), University of Sydney, Marian Villa, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
  2. 2AIHW General Practice Statistics and Classification Unit, University of Sydney, Acacia House, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
  1. Correspondence to:
 Professor A Mindel
 Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Centre (STIRC), University of Sydney, Marian Villa, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; adrianmicpmr.wsahs.nsw.gov.au

Abstract

Objectives: To ascertain how frequently general practitioners (GPs) in Australia encounter sexually transmitted infections (STIs), how STIs are managed in general practice, and the characteristics of GPs who manage STIs.

Methods: Data were derived from the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) database. BEACH is a cross sectional survey of national GP activity. Approximately 1000 GPs per year each record details of 100 consecutive patient encounters. Details from April 1998 to March 2001 about frequency and pattern of STIs managed and the characteristics of GP managing them were analysed using SAS.

Results: 3030 GPs provided data on 303 000 encounters. Only 521 problems managed were STIs. Viral STIs were most frequently managed including genital herpes (0.08 per 100 encounters), genital warts (0.07 per 100 encounters). Gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis were rarely managed. Medication was prescribed at a rate of 56.1 per 100 STI contacts (95% CI 50.4 to 61.7). Antivirals were the most common followed by topical chemotherapeutics. GPs managing STIs were significantly younger and more likely to be female, urban, have fewer years in practice, work fewer sessions a week, work in a larger practice, have graduated in Australia, and hold the FRACGP (all p<0.005) than those who did not.

Conclusion: Management of diagnosed STIs forms only a small part of a GP’s workload in Australia. Genital herpes and warts are the most commonly managed conditions. GPs managing STIs are different from those who do not. Strategies to improve diagnosis, management, and screening should be evaluated.

  • sexually transmitted infections
  • general practitioners
  • service provision
  • worklload
  • BEACH
  • AMS, Aboriginal Medical Services
  • BEACH, Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health
  • GPs, general practitioners
  • STIs, sexually transmitted infections

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

Footnotes

  • Conflict of interest: This article was researched, analysed and written as an independent analysis of data from Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) study. There was no conflict of interest for the authors in the preparation of this article.

Linked Articles

  • Brief Encounters
    Helen Ward Rob Miller
  • Correction
    BMJ Publishing Group Ltd