title: UK national audit of sexual health care for people with HIV infection: clinic policies.
abstract: A national audit of the sexual health care for people with HIV infection (PWHIV) was conducted in genitourinary medicine clinics and other clinics providing care for PWHIV in the UK in the summer of 2006. Data were aggregated by region and clinic, allowing practice to be compared between regions, as well as to national averages and against various guidelines. In this, the first of two papers, clinics were surveyed on their local policies. In total, 126 clinics participated. Only 38 clinics (30%, regional range 0-60%) had written local care pathways on management of sexually transmitted infection in PWHIV, while 73 (58, 20-100%) had unwritten policies. This compares with the national standard that 100% of service providers should be able to provide documentation of local care pathways for sexually transmitted diseases in people with HIV. Clinics should consider creating policies especially where standards are not being met.
authors.affiliation: The Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, London W1G 0AE, UK.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McClean
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carne
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bunting
authors.forename: Ed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wilkins
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baguley
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Daniels
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000592:standards*; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000592:standards*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D011050:Policy Making; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006113:United Kingdom