Pediatric emergency department provider perceptions of universal sexually transmitted infection screening.
The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of pediatric emergency care providers in relation to implementing a universal sexually transmitted infection screening process for adolescent female patients in a pediatric emergency department. A descriptive qualitative design was used with a convenience sample of pediatric emergency physicians and nurses working in a large urban, pediatric teaching hospital. Participants were individually interviewed using a standard interview guide. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using a modified constant comparative analysis method. Three overriding themes were identified that describe the perceptions of providers in relation to a universal screening process in a pediatric emergency department: Attitudes, Barriers, and Solutions. Universal sexually transmitted infection screening is one strategy that may help with early identification and treatment of adolescent female patients with undiagnosed sexually transmitted infections, and the pediatric emergency department is a potential site for such screening.
College of Nursing, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA. gordon.gillespie@uc.edu
Gordon Lee
GL
Gillespie
Jennifer
J
Reed
Carolyn K
CK
Holland
Jennifer Knopf
JK
Munafo
Rachael
R
Ekstrand
Maria T
MT
Britto
Jill
J
Huppert
D000293:Adolescent; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015146:Midwestern United States; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000078329:Workforce