Primary care of patients with sexually transmitted diseases or genitourinary symptoms in Hong Kong.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the adequacy of care received from general practitioners by patients with sexually transmitted diseases or genitourinary symptoms.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Hong Kong.


METHODS
Diagnoses and drug data obtained from logbooks submitted by doctors studying for the Diploma in Family Medicine and candidates for Fellowship examinations between 1999 and 2002.


METHODS
Diagnosis or symptom of a sexually transmitted disease and prescribed treatment.


RESULTS
Sexually transmitted diseases and genitourinary symptoms accounted for 1.1% of the workload of these community doctors in Hong Kong. The majority of patients were young adult males. The overall standard of treatment was inadequate: both multi-pharmacy and inappropriate treatment was common; in up to 30% of cases, doctors ignored local or international guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
Primary care doctors play an important role in the diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted diseases or genitourinary symptoms in Hong Kong. A high index of suspicion should be maintained and continuing education made available if doctors are to provide an equally high standard of care.
Wong
W C W
WC
Department of Community and Family Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong. cwwong@cuhk.edu.hk
Chan
C
C
Dickinson
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052801:Male Urogenital Diseases; D008875:Middle Aged; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D014526:Urethritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy