Abstract
BackgroundAustralia is considering implementing a chlamydia screening program in general practice. The views of general practitioners (GPs) are necessary to inform the design of the program. This paper aimed to investigate Australian GPs' views on how chlamydia screening could work in the Australian context.MethodsThis project used both qualitative interviews and a quantitative questionnaire. GPs were randomly selected from a national database of medical practitioners for both the qualitative and quantitative components. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with GPs and a thematic analysis conducted. The results of the interviews were used to design a quantitative postal questionnaire for completion by a larger sample of GPs. Up to three reminders were sent to non-responders.ResultsTwenty one GPs completed an interview and 255 completed the postal questionnaire. The results of the postal survey were in strong concordance with those of the interview. GPs identified a number of barriers to increased screening including lack of time, knowledge of GPs and the public about chlamydia, patient embarrassment and support for partner notification. GPs felt strongly that screening would be easier if there was a national program and if the public and GPs had a greater knowledge about chlamydia. Incentive payments and mechanisms for recall and reminders would facilitate screening. Greater support for contact tracing would be important if screening is to increase.ConclusionChlamydia screening in general practice is acceptable to Australian GPs. If screening is to succeed, policy makers must consider the facilitators identified by GPs.
Highlights
Australia is considering implementing a chlamydia screening program in general practice
In-depth interviews were conducted with 21 general practitioners (GPs) (30% of those contacted) – 13 GPs interviewed were in urban practices and eight in rural and regional practices, eight were female
Female GPs [45.9% (95%CI: 39.6%, 52.2%)] and older GPs [mean age 49.8 years (95%CI: 48.7 years, 50.9 years)] were more likely to complete the postal questionnaire compared with the whole Victorian GP population (35.4% female GPs, mean age = 47.7 years) [20]
Summary
Australia is considering implementing a chlamydia screening program in general practice. In its first National Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy released in 2005 [9], the Australian Commonwealth Government stated that a chlamydia screening pilot program targeting sexually active young people under 25 years of age should be a priority action. It announced in 2007 that it would evaluate a chlamydia screening pilot program set in general practice; the design of this program is currently under development [10]. General practitioners (GPs) in Australia are ideally placed to conduct widespread chlamydia screening as nearly 90% of Australian women aged 15–24 years of age, the key risk group,[4] visit a GP at least once each year [11], and the many specialist youth, family planning and STI clinics and outreach screening programs targeting the homeless and marginalized populations help to reach the remaining 10% [12,13,14]
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