title: Genital tract infections and the specialist gynaecologist: a survey of perception, diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: The study was designed to investigate the attitude of gynaecologists to the management of genital tract infections in the North West Region of England. A postal questionnaire was sent to all members and fellows of The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists with addresses in the region. A response rate of 71% was achieved. Of these 67% were male and more than 97% had been in the speciality for more than 5 years. Only 90.5% routinely obtain swabs from the posterior fornix; none from the pharynx. Forty-two per cent thought there might be a role for the genitourinary physician in the management of genital tract infections. Nineteen per cent engaged in consort tracing and only 22.6% carried out tests of cure before discharging the patients. Fifty-one per cent thought there could be grounds for litigation for not carrying out contact tracing and 27.4% agreed that not doing tests of cure may be regarded as negligence. This study revealed that there is a need for adequate training of gynaecologists with regards to the facilities available within the National Health Service.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Odutayo
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Bhattacharyya