TY - JOUR T1 - Physicians’ opinions about partner notification methods: case reporting, patient referral, and provider referral JF - Sexually Transmitted Infections JO - Sex Transm Infect SP - 30 LP - 34 DO - 10.1136/sti.2003.004937 VL - 80 IS - 1 AU - M Hogben AU - J S St Lawrence AU - D E Montaño AU - D Kasprzyk AU - J S Leichliter AU - W R Phillips Y1 - 2004/02/01 UR - http://sti.bmj.com/content/80/1/30.abstract N2 - 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. ER -