Management of pelvic inflammatory disease by primary care physicians. A comparison with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
BACKGROUND
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published recommendations for clinicians on the management of pelvic inflammatory disease, but it is unknown if providers are aware of the guidelines or follow them.


OBJECTIVE
To compare pelvic inflammatory disease screening, diagnosis, treatment, and reporting practices among primary care physicians with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for pelvic inflammatory disease.


METHODS
A weighted random sample of California primary care physicians surveyed in November 1992 and January 1993.


RESULTS
Of the 1,165 physicians surveyed, 553 (48%) returned completed questionnaires. Among respondents, 302 (55%) reported having treated a case of pelvic inflammatory disease during the last 12 months, and of these, 52% answered that they were unsure of or do not follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for pelvic inflammatory disease. Pediatricians and those with more years since residency were less likely to deviate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for pelvic inflammatory disease, and family practitioners were more likely to deviate from the guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
Pelvic inflammatory disease is commonly encountered by primary care physicians in California. Training and experience were important predictors of compliance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations; however, substantial divergence from the guidelines occurs.
Hessol
N A
NA
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco 94143-1352, USA.
Priddy
F H
FH
Bolan
G
G
Baumrind
N
N
Vittinghoff
E
E
Reingold
A L
AL
Padian
N S
NS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011897:Random Allocation; D014481:United States