UK National Audit of chlamydial infection management in sexual health clinics. clinic policies audit.
There was a wide range of activity and chlamydial diagnoses between the 177 clinics that responded. Most (92%) clinics have nucleic acid tests for chlamydial diagnosis. Different practitioners largely share roles in providing advice to patients about partner notification, treatment adherence, safer sex advice and abstinence. Most (97%) clinics have information leaflets about chlamydia, although about 30% of clinics lack leaflets containing information about antibiotics and hormonal contraception. About two-third clinics follow the National Guideline recommended interval for providing a test of cure where this is indicated. Only 18% of clinics routinely ask patients to reattend, with 40% having a policy of no routine follow-up and 62% using telephone or text follow-up. These categories were not mutually exclusive. Most (86%) of the 146 English clinics had a local Chlamydia Screening Programme coordinator for their Primary Care Trust area, although cooperation varies, with cooperation over treatment of 70% and Programme policy of 62%.
Carne
Chris
C
Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, London W1G 0AE, UK.
McClean
Hugo
H
Bhaduri
Sumit
S
Bunting
Paul
P
Fernandes
Arnold
A
Dhar
Jyoti
J
Estreich
Steve
S
Daniels
David
D
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052801:Male Urogenital Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D008485:Medical Audit; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006113:United Kingdom