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Table 3 GP characteristics and knowledge variables associated with chlamydia testing 1

From: Improving chlamydia knowledge should lead to increased chlamydia testing among Australian general practitioners: a cross-sectional study of chlamydia testing uptake in general practice

GP variable   Odds ratio 95% CI p-value Adjusted OR2(including GP characteristics) 95% CI p-value Adjusted OR2(excluding GP characteristics) 95% CI p-value
Gender of GP Male 1.0    1.0      
Female 3.1 2.1, 4.7 <0.01 2.5 1.9, 3.3 <0.01
Location Rural 1.0    1.0      
Metro 2.3 1.4, 3.6 <0.01 3.2 2.4, 4.3 <0.01
Age Group <30 1.0    1.0      
30-44 0.8 0.5, 1.2 0.27 0.7 0.5, 1.1 0.13
45-59 0.6 0.3, 0.9 0.02 0.5 0.3, 0.7 <0.01
60+ 0.4 0.1, 1.3 0.13 0.4 0.3, 0.7 <0.01
Years in general practice <5 1.0         
5-10 1.0 0.6, 1.7 0.91    
10-20 0.9 0.6, 1.5 0.81    
20-30 0.8 0.4, 1.5 0.48    
30+ 0.4 0.1, 1.3 0.11    
Country of training Australian 1.0         
trained       
Overseas trained 0.8 0.5, 1.2 0.31    
Interest in sexual health No 1.0    1.0      
Yes 1.7 1.0, 2.7 0.04 1.3 1.0, 1.7 0.03
Postgraduate qualifications No 1.0         
Yes 1.2 0.7, 1.9 0.56    
Female age groups at highest risk of infection3 Incorrect 1.0    1.0    1.0   
Correct 1.8 1.0, 3.1 0.05 1.6 0.7, 3.5 0.26 1.5 0.7, 3.5 0.31
Male age groups at highest risk of infection4 Incorrect 1.0    1.0    1.0   
Correct 1.6 0.9, 2.9 0.08 1.4 0.8, 2.7 0.23 1.6 0.9, 2.9 0.10
Chlamydia is usually asymptomatic in Women Disagree 1.0       1.0   
Agree 1.4 0.9, 2.3 0.18     1.2 0.7, 2.1 0.44
Chlamydia is usually asymptomatic in Men Disagree 1.0    1.0    1.0   
Agree 1.6 1.1, 2.2 0.01 1.4 1.0, 1.9 0.03 1.4 0.9, 1.9 0.10
Knowledge of population groups to be targeted for screening5 0-2 1.0    1.0    1.0   
3-5 2.0 1.0, 4.0 0.05 1.7 0.8, 3.8 0.16 2.0 1.0, 4.2 0.07
6+ 3.4 1.7, 6.8 <0.01 2.0 0.9, 4.4 0.08 2.9 1.4, 6.2 <0.01
Treatment in men and non-pregnant women6 Incorrect 1.0       1.0   
Correct 1.0 0.4, 2.3 0.97     1.0 0.5, 2.2 0.92
Treatment in pregnant women6 Incorrect 1.0       1.0   
Correct 0.7 0.5, 1.0 0.11     0.6 0.4, 0.9 0.01
Retest at 12 months after a negative test7 Incorrect 1.0    1.0    1.0   
Correct 1.8 0.9, 3.5 0.08 1.2 0.9, 1.6 0.32 1.5 0.9, 2.6 0.16
Retest at 3 months after a positive test7 Incorrect 1.0       1.0   
Correct 1.0 0.7, 1.5 0.97     0.9 0.6, 1.4 0.73
Knowledge of symptoms suggestive of PID8 Incorrect 1.0       1.0   
Correct 1.3 0.7, 2.2 0.38     1.3 0.8, 2.0 0.34
Knowledge of PID tests that should be done9 Incorrect 1.0    1.0    1.0   
Correct 1.5 0.9, 2.3 0.09 0.9 0.7, 1.2 0.41 1.1 0.8, 1.7 0.51
Gender of patient2 Male 1.0    1.0    1.0   
Female 2.3 1.7, 3.1 <0.01 1.9 1.5, 2.4 <0.01 2.2 1.7, 2.9 <0.01
  1. 1Accounted for repeated measures from individuals GPs; 2The multivariable models have adjusted for patient gender; 3Answers were classified as correct if they ticked at least one correct answer - 15-19 and 20-24 year olds; 4Answers were classified as correct if they ticked at least one correct answer - 20-24 and 25-29 year olds; 5Knowledge of population groups to be targeted for screening is one point for correctly offering a test under the 2010 RACGP guidelines - tests should be offered to cases 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 & 8 but not offered to cases 3 & 6; 6Azithromycin is the correct treatment for men, women and pregnant women; 7RACGP guidelines recommend re-testing every 12 months after a negative test and every 3 months after a positive test; 8Correct signs and symptoms suggestive of PID are tenderness with motion of the cervix, adnexal tenderness, uterine tenderness, lower abdominal tenderness and inflamed cervix; 9Correct diagnostic tests are pregnancy test, chlamydia and gonorrhoea test, abdominal palpation and bimanual examination.
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BMC Infectious Diseases

ISSN: 1471-2334

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