PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Hogben, M
AU  - St Lawrence, J S
AU  - Montaño, D E
AU  - Kasprzyk, D
AU  - Leichliter, J S
AU  - Phillips, W R
TI  - Physicians’ opinions about partner notification methods: case reporting, patient referral, and provider referral
AID  - 10.1136/sti.2003.004937
DP  - 2004 Feb 01
TA  - Sexually Transmitted Infections
PG  - 30--34
VI  - 80
IP  - 1
4099  - http://sti.bmj.com/content/80/1/30.short
4100  - http://sti.bmj.com/content/80/1/30.full
SO  - Sex Transm Infect2004 Feb 01; 80
AB  - Background: The United States has relied upon partner notification strategies to help break the chain of infection and re-infection for sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Physicians are a vital link in the system of STD control, but little is known of physician opinions about partner notification strategies. Methods: We collected opinions about partner notification from a national probability sample of physicians in specialties diagnosing STDs. Physicians responded to 17 questions about three relevant forms of STD partner notification: patient based referral, provider based referral, and case reporting. Results: Exploratory factor analyses showed that responses for each form of partner notification could be grouped into four categories: perceived practice norms, infection control, patient relationships, and time/money. Multivariate analyses of the factors showed that physicians endorsed patient based referral most favourably and provider based referral least favourably. Conclusion: Physicians’ opinions about partner notification strategies appear to reflect objective reality in some areas, but not in others. Strategies that improve the fit between physicians’ opinions and effective notification are needed: some are discussed here.