Family physicians' competency for sexually transmitted diseases

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Sexually transmitted diseased (STDs) are one of the most common and most important health issues of the 21st century. Despite of the simple prevention and treatment methods, worldwide prevalence of STDs is still quite high. Also, several studies worldwide report that family physicians have inadequate information on diagnosis, treatment and management of STDs. This study aims to determine family physicians' competence of management for STDs using STD case samples. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This cross-sectional study's population consisted of all family physicians in Turkey. Questionnaires consisted of questions about demographic data, self-evaluation on management of STDs and questions regarding diagnosis, treatment and management of 3 different case samples. Questionnaires were sent by e-mail to all family physicians working in randomly selected provinces from 12 statistical territories of Turkish Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics. Participants' diagnosis, treatment/management and total competency scores were calculated by giving 1 point for each correct answer. Also, participants' adequacy restriction, and behaviour scores were calculated based on their answers for self-evaluation questions. All data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics V22.0 program. RESULTS: 658 family physicians participated in the study and 29% (n=191) of them were women. Their mean age was 42,29 ± 7,902 and mean number of years in profession was 17,69 ± 8,059. 52.1% (n=343) of them did not receive any postgraduate education about STDs. Participants' mean diagnosis score was higher than the median score, yet their mean treatment/management score and mean total competence score was lower than the median score. These scores were not significantly related with age, sex, academic degree, number of years in profession and number of years working as a family physician (p>0.05). Participants who worked in a clinic with high rates of STD consultations felt more adequate and had higher behaviour scores (p=0,002 and p<0,001, respectively) than those who didn't. Participants that did not receive any postgraduate education about STDs had significantly worse treatment/management, restriction, behaviour and adequacy scores than those who did (p=0.031, p=0.004, p<0.001 and p<0,001, respectively). Participants who claim that STDs should be managed in primary care settings had significantly higher treatment/management, competency, adequacy and behaviour scores than others (p<0.001, p=0.001, p.0,001 and p=0,003, respectively). CONCLUSION: Family physicians' STD management skills seem to be inadequate. Their competency for diagnosis, treatment and management of STDs seem to need improvement.