Frequency of recommendations for sexually transmitted infection testing among females aged 14–25 in a hospital-based outpatient ob-gyn clinic

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to quantify the proportion of patients with indications for gonorrhea and chlamydia screening who were recommended for testing and quantify the proportion of patients with indications for HIV screening who were recommended for testing. Methods: A retrospective chart review of all visits by nonpregnant women aged 14–25 to the Kapiolani Women's Clinic in 2014 was conducted. Physician adherence to professional standards for gonorrhea and chlamydia screening was quantified among patients with an indication for screening at the time of visit (no documentation of testing in prior 12 months or new risk factors since last screening). Adherence to professional standards for HIV screening among patients with an indication for screening (never having been tested or new risk since last testing) was also examined. Results: Of 723 eligible visits reviewed, 64.9% (469) of patients had an indication for gonorrhea and chlamydia screening, and 40.2% (291) had an indication for HIV screening. Among patients with indications for gonorrhea and chlamydia screening, 45.4% (213) were recommended to receive screening, of which 86.0% (183) completed screening. Among patients with an indication for HIV screening, 18.2% (53) received recommendations for testing, of which 38% (20) completed screening. Conclusions: Less than half of patients who had indications for gonorrhea and chlamydia screening received a testing recommendation, while just 18.2% of patients with an indication for HIV screening received a recommendation for testing from their physician, indicating poor adherence to national screening recommendations by physicians in this resident clinic setting.