title: General practitioners and the National Strategy on Sexual Health and HIV.
abstract: To determine general practitioners' knowledge of, and opinions on, the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV and whether they intend to provide Level 1 and 2 HIV/STI services, a self-administered questionnaire was sent to one partner from 155 general practices in Sheffield and North Derbyshire in November 2001. Response rate was 57% (88). Forty-eight (55%) GPs aware of strategy but 53 (60%) had no knowledge of what it involved. LEVEL 1. Sixty-two (71%) felt confident in providing advice on STI prevention and 46 (52%) on HIV. Nine (10%) GPs provide HIV testing and 29 (33%) anticipate doing so but 24 (83%) require staff training and 20 (70%) increased funding. All Level 1 STI services are provided by 60 (68%) practices and 72 (82%) anticipate providing. LEVEL 2. Thirty-nine (45%) anticipate testing and treating STIs but only nine (10%) will undertake partner notification. Resources required are training, nine (60%) and funding, nine (60%). The main reasons for not offering in the future were too busy 58 (72%) and lack of demand 25 (31%). Many GPs are unaware of the strategy but most anticipate providing Level 1 STI services. Less than half anticipate offering HIV testing. Although 45% of GPs may provide Level 2 care, it is unlikely to include partner notification. Many GPs are too busy and require extra training and funding. These needs must be addressed if the Strategy is to be implemented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK. Karen.Rogstad@sth.nhs.uk
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Rogstad
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Henton
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D016358:Contact Tracing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology