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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Susan Middlestadt, PhD1, C. Kevin Malotte, DrPH2, Nancy L VanDevanter, DrPH3, M Hogben, PhD4, Janet S St. Lawrence, PhD5, Rebecca Ledsky, MBA1, Alwyn Cohall, MD6, Jonathan Zenilman, MD7, Robert Hurd Settlage, MD, MPH8, and Glen Olthoff9. (1) Center for Applied Behavioral and Evaluation Research, Academy for Educational Development, 1825 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20009, 2028848874, smiddles@aed.org, (2) Health Science Department, California State University, Long Beach, 5500 Atherton Street, Suite 400, Long Beach, CA 90815, (3) Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health, Sociomedical Sciences Division, Columbia University, 600 West 168 St, New York, NY 10032, (4) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 Corporate Square, Blvd, Mail Stop E-44, Atlanta, GA 30329, (5) Behavioral Interventions Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop E-44, Atlanta, GA 30333, (6) Harlem Health Promotion Center, Columbia University, 600 West 168th Street, Fourth Floor, New York, NY 10032, (7) Baltimore City Health Department and Johns Hopkins University, Ross 1165-720 Rutland Ave, Baltimore, MD 21205, (8) Los Angeles County STD Program, Los Angeles County, 2615 S. Grand Ave., Room 500, Los Angeles, CA 90007-2608, (9) STD, Baltimore City Health Department, 5408 Silver Hill Rd, Suite 4100, Forestville, MD 20747
Background. Although it is important for providers to ascertain whether their adolescent patients are sexually active and if so, regularly test them for gonorrhea and chlamydia, many primary care providers do not regularly test for these STDs and are often reluctant to ask adolescents about sexual behavior.
Method. A quasi-experimental intervention study was conducted with providers from three diverse communities (Harlem, NY; Los Angeles County, CA; Prince George's County, MD) with high rates of GC. A workshop was offered to providers in the treatment clinic in NY and to providers randomly assigned to the treatment group at the other two sites (LA & MD). The workshop updated physicians on urine-based STD testing and built skills and positive beliefs about taking a sexual history. The workshop was offered in the treatment clinic in NY, to individuals in the evening off-site in MD, and at the physicians' offices in LA. Self-completion surveys were completed before the intervention and then again after the intervention approximately one year later. Providers were asked about behavior and beliefs with respect to testing adolescents for gonorrhea and chlamydia and asking about sexual behavior at every visit.
Results. Preliminary analyses of covariance conducted on data from 83 providers from two of the three sites suggested that the intervention had a positive effect on testing behaviors and beliefs. Complete data from all three sites will be presented.
Conclusion. Provider workshops may be one effective approach to improve the STD care of primary providers.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Physicians
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.