Quality of sexually transmitted infection clinical management and contact tracing outcomes in a remote area of high sexually transmitted infection endemicity.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to assess health professionals' adherence to Western Australian sexually transmitted infection (STI) management guidelines and to document the outcomes of contact tracing in a remote Indigenous setting.


METHODS
This article comprises 2 parts: a retrospective clinical audit of quality of clinical STI management and outcomes of contact tracing and an analysis of completeness of relevant laboratory investigations.


RESULTS
Documented clinical STI management of index cases varied from 94% receiving treatment in accordance with the Guidelines, whereas only 48% underwent a clinical examination. Sexual contacts who underwent STI consultation had concordant (30%) and discordant (17%) STI(s). The proportion of patients with STI(s) in whom all appropriate laboratory investigations had been requested increased from 25% in 1998 to 9% to 49% in 2001-2002.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that quality of clinical STI management comparable to that observed overseas is possible despite the challenges of healthcare delivery in a remote setting.
Kimberley Public Health Unit (formerly), School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Australia. markho@bigpond.com
Donna B
DB
Mak
Aileen J
AJ
Plant
Max K
MK
Bulsara
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016358:Contact Tracing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology