title: The impact of a chlamydia education program on practice nurse's knowledge and attitudes in relation to chlamydia testing: a cross-sectional survey.
abstract: Background We aimed to determine the impact of a chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) education program on the knowledge of and attitudes towards chlamydia testing of practice nurses (PNs).
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted at baseline and 6-12 months following recruitment with PNs in the Australian Chlamydia Control Effectiveness Pilot. Likert scales were analysed as continuous variables (scores), and t-tests were used to assess changes in mean scores between survey rounds and groups.
  
  
  
  Of the 72 PNs who completed both surveys, 42 received education. Epidemiology knowledge scores increased significantly between surveys in the education group (P<0.01), with change in knowledge being greater in the education group compared with the non-education group (P<0.01). Knowledge of recommended testing scenarios (P=0.01) and retesting following treatment (P<0.01) increased in the education group. Attitudes to testing scores improved over time in the education group (P=0.03), with PNs more likely to want increased involvement in chlamydia testing (P<0.01). Change in overall attitude scores towards testing between surveys was higher in the education group (P=0.05). Barriers to chlamydia testing scores also increased in the education group (P=0.03), with change in barriers greater in the education vs the non-education group (P=0.03).
  
  
  
  The education program led to improved knowledge and attitudes to chlamydia, and could be made available to PNs working in general practice. Future analyses will determine if the education program plus other initiatives can increase testing rates.
authors.affiliation: The Kirby Institute, Wallace Wurth Building, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lorch
authors.affiliation: The Kirby Institute, Wallace Wurth Building, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guy
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, The University of Melbourne, 200 Berkeley Street, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Meredith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Temple-Smith
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Vic. 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Alaina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaisey
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Vic. 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: The Kirby Institute, Wallace Wurth Building, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: NSW Sexually Transmissible Infection Programs Unit, PO Box 1614, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: NSW Sexually Transmissible Infection Programs Unit, PO Box 1614, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bourne
authors.affiliation: Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health, The University of Melbourne, 49 Graham Street, Shepparton ,Vic. 3630, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tomnay
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Vic. 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hocking
authors.forename: On Behalf Of The
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: ACCEPt Consortium
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires