FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE PHYSICIAN APPROACHES TO, DISCUSSIONS ABOUT AND TESTING WOMEN FOR CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS IN NOVA SCOTIA

Abstract

Background: Annual screening of sexually active women aged 15 -24 years for Chlamydia trachomatis has been widely advocated. Goal: Examine relationships between physician characteristics and reported rates of sexual history taking, testing patients for chlamydia, and contact tracing activities taken. Study Design: Two hundred and forty one physicians in Nova Scotia completed a mailed questionnaire. Results: Contextual factors associated with the patient visit, demographic characteristics of the physician, and their beliefs, attitudes and perceptions were associated with rates of sexual history taking, and of annually testing for chlamydia. Further, physicians in Nova Scotia did not perform as well as might be expected with respect to contact tracing activities. Conclusion: The frequency of sexual history taking and patient testing were below recommended levels. Both modifiable and non-modifiable characteristics held by physicians were associated with these reported rates. Physicians may be failing to adequately assess and manage patients infected with chlamydia.