Anogenital warts knowledge and counseling practices of US clinicians: results from a national survey.
OBJECTIVE
To examine messages US clinicians use when counseling patients diagnosed with anogenital warts.


METHODS
In mid-2004, we conducted a confidential mail survey of nationally representative samples of physicians practicing internal and adolescent medicine, family/general practice, obstetrics/gynecology, urology, or dermatology; nurse midwives; physician assistants; and nurse practitioners. The survey assessed knowledge and counseling practices of clinicians who had diagnosed anogenital warts.


RESULTS
After adjusting for survey eligibility, 81% responded. Most (89%) were aware that human papillomavirus (HPV) causes anogenital warts, but only 48% were aware that oncogenic and wart-related HPV genotypes usually differ. Most (>95%) clinicians reported telling patients with warts that warts are an STD, are caused by a virus, or that their sex partners may have or may acquire warts. Many clinicians (>/=85%) also reported discussing STD prevention or assessing STD risk with such patients. Most reported addressing ways to prevent HPV (89%), including using condoms; limiting sex partners or practicing monogamy; or abstinence. Many also reported recommending prompt (82%) or more frequent (52%) Pap testing to female patients with anogenital warts. Potential barriers to counseling included providing definitive answers on how HPV infection was acquired, dealing with patients' psychosocial issues, and inadequate reimbursement.


CONCLUSIONS
Most surveyed clinicians appropriately counseled patients about the cause and prevention of anogenital warts. However, many clinicians were unaware that oncogenic and wart-related HPV types usually differ, and this may explain why many reported recommending more aggressive cervical cancer screening for female patients with warts.
Henderson
Zsakeba
Z
Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. zhenderson@cdc.gov
Irwin
Kathleen L
KL
Montaño
Daniel E
DE
Kasprzyk
Danuta
D
Carlin
Linda
L
Greek
April
A
Freeman
Crystal
C
Barnes
Rheta
R
Jain
Nidhi
N
D000328:Adult; D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data