Factors affecting knowledge of sexually transmitted infection transmissibility in healthcare providers: results from a national survey.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to examine healthcare providers' knowledge of the transmissibility of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and identify knowledge determinants.


METHODS
Questionnaires were completed March through May 2004 by a representative sample of Canadian healthcare providers, yielding a corrected response rate of 50.8% for physicians. STI workers returned 236 questionnaires.


RESULTS
For physicians, the distribution of HIV estimates was positively skewed (mode = 10%), whereas chlamydia estimates were widely dispersed. STI workers showed a trimodal (0%, 50%, and 100%) distribution of HIV estimates and a negatively skewed distribution of chlamydia estimates (mode = 100%). Overall, 1.4% (HIV) and 5.8% (chlamydia) of respondents gave estimates close to the actual transmission probabilities. More years of medical experience and higher estimates of STI prevalence predicted higher transmissibility estimates (95% confidence intervals).


CONCLUSIONS
That only a small percentage of healthcare providers are aware of the actual transmissibility of HIV and chlamydia has implications for improving medical and sexual health training.
Rosen
Natalie O
NO
McGill University, Montreal, Canada. natalie.rosen@mail.mcgill.ca
Knäuper
Bärbel
B
Mozessohn
Lee
L
Ho
Moon-Ho Ringo
MH
D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010820:Physicians / Q000592:standards; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires