Innovative resources could help improve partner notification for chlamydia in primary care.
OBJECTIVE
To examine practices of general practitioners' (GPs) in relation to partner notification for chlamydia and identify the supports they would find most useful to assist them.


OBJECTIVE
To identify innovative resources that could improve partner notification for chlamydia in primary care.


METHODS
A postal survey was undertaken that involved GPs from several jurisdictions across Australia between August and December 2007. GPs were randomly selected from a national database.


RESULTS
Of 521 eligible GPs, 234 (45%) returned a completed questionnaire. Ninety-five percent (n = 223) felt that it was their role to discuss partner notification with patients diagnosed with chlamydia; however, only 45% (105/232) were sure how best to assist their patients with this. Considerable variation was shown in the way partner notification was undertaken, including how far back in time GPs recommended contacting partners. GPs considered a wide range of possible resources useful, including a website supporting patients (90%), information sheets generated by practice software when chlamydia is diagnosed (90%), printed information packs for patients (85%), a website designed to assist GPs (80%), and referral to these websites via positive laboratory results (85%). Forty-three percent currently undertook patient delivered partner therapy for chlamydia.


CONCLUSIONS
GPs want and need greater guidance and resources to assist them with partner notification for chlamydia. Resources utilizing the internet and practice software and mechanisms where GPs are automatically directed to these when chlamydia is diagnosed have wide appeal and the potential to improve the effectiveness of partner notification for chlamydia.
Bilardi
Jade E
JE
Sexual Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia. jbilardi@mshc.org.au
Hopkins
Carol A
CA
Fairley
Christopher K
CK
Hocking
Jane S
JS
Tomnay
Jane E
JE
Pavlin
Natasha L
NL
Parker
Rhian M
RM
Temple-Smith
Meredith J
MJ
Bowden
Francis J
FJ
Russell
Darren B
DB
Pitts
Marian
M
Chen
Marcus Y
MY
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D016358:Contact Tracing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D010821:Physicians, Family; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012984:Software; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires