Back to Search
Start Over
Chlamydia screening practices among physicians and community nurses in Yukon, Canada
- Source :
- International Journal of Circumpolar Health, Vol 72, Iss 0, Pp 1-11 (2013), International Journal of Circumpolar Health, International Journal of Circumpolar Health; Vol 72 (2013)
- Publication Year :
- 2013
- Publisher :
- Taylor & Francis Group, 2013.
-
Abstract
- Background. Yukon, a territory in northern Canada, has one of the highest reported sexually transmitted chlamydia infection rates in the country. Objective. We examined screening practices among physicians and community nurses to elucidate factors that may be contributing to the high rates. Design. Cross-sectional survey. Methods. A questionnaire was distributed to all physicians in Yukon and all community nurses in Yukon’s communities. We surveyed sexual health assessment frequency, chlamydia testing frequency and barriers to screening. Comparison of physician testing practices was performed to another Canadian jurisdiction, which previously undertook a similar survey. Survey results were compared to the available laboratory data in Yukon. Results. Eligible physicians and nurses, 79% and 77%, respectively, participated in the survey. Physicians tested 15 to 24-year-old females more frequently than 15 to 24-year-old males for chlamydia (p0.007). Physicians who asked sexual health assessment questions were more likely to test for chlamydia in both females (pB0.001) and males (p0.032). More physicians screened females based on risk factors compared to males. General practice physicians in Yukon were more likely to test females for chlamydia than general practice physicians in Toronto, Canada (pB0.001). Community nurses had different testing patterns than physicians, with a lower overall frequency of testing, equal frequency of testing males and females, and in applying risk factor-based screening to both males and females. Barriers to screening included testing causing patient discomfort, patients reluctant to discuss screening, health provider uncomfortable conducting sexually transmitted infection tests and sexual health assessments, among others. Laboratory data in Yukon appear to confirm provider screening patterns. Conclusions. This survey provides valuable information on health provider screening patterns. We have some evidence which suggests that chlamydia testing rates may be higher among patients seen by physicians in Yukon in comparison to another Canadian jurisdiction. However, more consistent application of optimal screening methods with support to ‘‘start the conversation’’ around sexual health may assist in overcoming barriers to screening and in addressing Yukon’s high rate of chlamydia. Keywords: chlamydia; Yukon Territory; Canada; sexually transmitted diseases; screening; physicians; general practitioners; public health nursing; adolescent (Published: 5 August 2013) This paper is part of Supplement 1, 2013, ICCH15 Proceedings . More papers from this Supplement can be found here . Citation: Int J Circumpolar Health 2013, 72 : 21607 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v72i0.21607
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
Gerontology
medicine.medical_specialty
Canada
Health (social science)
lcsh:Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
Epidemiology
Cross-sectional study
sexually transmitted diseases
physicians
lcsh:RC955-962
Infectious Disease
chlamydia
Young Adult
Sex Factors
general practitioners
Surveys and Questionnaires
Yukon Territory
Supplement 1, 2013
medicine
Humans
Mass Screening
screening
public health nursing
adolescent
Practice Patterns, Physicians'
Young adult
Risk factor
Mass screening
Aged
Reproductive health
Chlamydia
business.industry
Age Factors
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Public health nursing
General Medicine
Chlamydia Infections
Middle Aged
Community Health Nursing
medicine.disease
Test (assessment)
Cross-Sectional Studies
Health Care Surveys
Family medicine
Female
business
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 22423982, 1797237X, and 12399736
- Volume :
- 72
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Journal of Circumpolar Health
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....000be605dd489a1108a9fbbdd95a51d0