title: The diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis: established criteria versus reality in a community-based family practice residency program.
abstract: Vaginal discharge is a frequent presenting complaint in the primary care setting, with bacterial vaginosis (BV) being one of the most common causes. Amsel's criteria is widely used to make the diagnosis of BV. A review of the literature reveals extensive discussion on the diagnostic criteria but no studies were found as to how well these criteria were used by residents to make this common diagnosis. Documentation of Amsel's criteria from the patient encounter form was recorded and 201 randomly selected charts were reviewed. Each resident was given a survey designed to assess their knowledge and use of Amsel's criteria. Data from the two showed a significant difference between what the residents perceived use and actual use of clue cells (p < .0001), Whiff (p < .0001), and vaginal discharge (p < .0228) to diagnosis BV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine-Tulsa, 9924 E. 21st Street, Tulsa, OK 74129, USA.
authors.forename: R Randy
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Trachier
mesh_terms: D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008499:Medical Records; D009825:Oklahoma; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis*