title: Activities to increase provider awareness of early syphilis in men who have sex with men in 8 cities, 2000-2004.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Describe provider awareness campaigns undertaken in response to syphilis epidemics among men who have sex with men (MSM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive data from 8 cities facing MSM syphilis epidemics was compiled.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Provider awareness efforts included medical alerts, provider visits, lectures to providers on symptom recognition and treatment, and ongoing provision of syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD) morbidity information through mailings, visits, and e-mail communications. Increases in private provider reporting of syphilis cases followed provider visits in Atlanta and overall provider education efforts in New York City. Decreases in reporting delays and increases in physician calls to the STD program were reported in San Francisco following provider syphilis lectures. Increases in provider participation in community action meetings followed provider awareness efforts in Houston, Chicago, and Miami.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Various methods were used to increase provider awareness of syphilis in these 8 cities. The cost and impact of these activities merits more formal evaluation to determine their contribution to syphilis control in MSM.
authors.affiliation: Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. taylorm@azdhs.gov
authors.forename: Melaine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prescott
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Broussard
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jordahl
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kerndt
mesh_terms: D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014505:Urban Population