Estimating dissemination of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatment Guidelines from a survey of physicians.
Periodically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) produce guidelines for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the USA. To date, few evaluations of the dissemination of these guidelines exist. A paper and pencil survey was distributed via priority mail to a sample of Atlanta-area physicians, 416 (34%) of whom responded with complete data. Physicians were drawn from private practice, managed-care settings and public settings. In all, 85% of respondents treated STD, with a further 10% referring cases. Of those treating STD, 56% owned a copy of the 2002 CDC Treatment Guidelines, and 26% knew how to access them. The corresponding figures for physicians not treating STD were 25% and 30%. Of the physicians who did have copies, half had accessed the internet for their copies. Acquisition of, or the knowledge of how to acquire, the CDC STD Treatment Guidelines was widespread. The internet may be an effective and cost-saving means of disseminating the guidelines, although the continued need for print distribution should not be discounted.
Hogben
Matthew
M
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. mhogben@cdc.gov
Wimberly
Yolanda H
YH
Moore
Sandra
S
D000367:Age Factors; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. / Q000592:standards*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010820:Physicians; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011331:Private Practice; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States