title: Pediatric residents' knowledge, use, and comfort with expedited partner therapy for STIs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined California pediatric residents' knowledge, practices, and comfort of providing expedited partner therapy (EPT) for sexually transmitted infections, by postgraduate year of training and presence of an adolescent medicine fellowship. We hypothesized that few residents are aware of EPT, and fewer are comfortable providing it; knowledge, practices, and comfort increase during residency; and presence of an adolescent medicine fellowship increases knowledge, practices, and comfort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Online anonymous questionnaires were completed by pediatric residents from 14 California programs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred eighty-nine pediatric residents (41% response; mean age, 29.4 ± 2.7 years; 78% female) responded. Twenty-two percent reported being moderately or very familiar with EPT. Most correctly identified several EPT methods. Incorrectly identified as EPT included patient (55%), health department (42%), and provider (37%) referrals. Only 8% were aware of California's legal status regarding EPT. Sixty-nine percent knew that California law allows EPT for chlamydia and gonorrhea, but 38% incorrectly stated that EPT can be used to treat trichomoniasis. Fifty-two percent reported ever providing EPT, but 30% of them were uncomfortable doing so. Postgraduate year 1 residents were significantly more likely to report lack of experience as a barrier to prescribing EPT. Residents in programs with the presence of an adolescent medicine fellowship had significantly higher global knowledge scores and were more likely to practice EPT with fewer concerns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  California pediatric residents have knowledge gaps and discomfort providing EPT, and the presence of adolescent medicine fellowship is associated with increased EPT knowledge, use, and comfort among residents. Our findings demonstrate a need to improve EPT education in pediatric residencies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1174 Castro St, Suite 250A, Mountain View, CA 94040, USA. annepeds@gmail.com
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hsii
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hillard
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Neville H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Golden
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D000295:Adolescent Medicine / Q000193:education; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002140:California; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires