FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH APPROPRIATE PHYSICIAN MANAGEMENT OF SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN AN URBAN CANADIAN CENTER

Background and Objectives: To explore physicians' management of select ed sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), because previous studies sugg est that physicians' management practices could be improved. Goals: To determine the estimated annual incidence of STD seen by family/genera l practitioners (FPs), gynecologists (GYNs) and urologists (UROLs), ad equacy of STD management practices, and any associations with demograp hic and other characteristics. Study Design: A self-administered quest ionnaire was mailed to GYNs, UROLs, and a random sample of FPs in Hami lton, Ontario. Results: Eighty-one of 102 (79.4%) PPs, 27 of 32 (84.4% ) GYNs, and 7 of 8 (87.5%) UROLs responded, Vaginitis, male urethritis , and genital warts in women were the most frequently observed STDs. T he treatment of bacterial vaginosis and pelvic inflammatory disease we re most frequently at variance with published guidelines. Conclusions: Deficiencies exist in physicians' management of both common and poten tially serious STD problems.