The impact of a chlamydia education program on practice nurse’s knowledge and attitudes in relation to chlamydia testing: a cross-sectional survey
Rebecca Lorch A F , Rebecca Guy A , Meredith Temple-Smith B , Alaina Vaisey C , Anna Wood C , Belinda Ford A , Carolyn Murray D , Chris Bourne D , Jane Tomnay E , Jane Hocking C and on behalf of the ACCEPt ConsortiumA The Kirby Institute, Wallace Wurth Building, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
B Department of General Practice, The University of Melbourne, 200 Berkeley Street, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.
C Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Vic. 3010, Australia.
D NSW Sexually Transmissible Infection Programs Unit, PO Box 1614, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia.
E Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health, The University of Melbourne, 49 Graham Street, Shepparton ,Vic. 3630, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: rlorch@kirby.unsw.edu.au
Sexual Health 13(1) 73-80 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH15134
Submitted: 30 June 2015 Accepted: 28 September 2015 Published: 16 November 2015
Abstract
Background: We aimed to determine the impact of a chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) education program on the knowledge of and attitudes towards chlamydia testing of practice nurses (PNs). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at baseline and 6–12 months following recruitment with PNs in the Australian Chlamydia Control Effectiveness Pilot. Likert scales were analysed as continuous variables (scores), and t-tests were used to assess changes in mean scores between survey rounds and groups. Results: Of the 72 PNs who completed both surveys, 42 received education. Epidemiology knowledge scores increased significantly between surveys in the education group (P < 0.01), with change in knowledge being greater in the education group compared with the non-education group (P < 0.01). Knowledge of recommended testing scenarios (P = 0.01) and retesting following treatment (P < 0.01) increased in the education group. Attitudes to testing scores improved over time in the education group (P = 0.03), with PNs more likely to want increased involvement in chlamydia testing (P < 0.01). Change in overall attitude scores towards testing between surveys was higher in the education group (P = 0.05). Barriers to chlamydia testing scores also increased in the education group (P = 0.03), with change in barriers greater in the education vs the non-education group (P = 0.03). Conclusion: The education program led to improved knowledge and attitudes to chlamydia, and could be made available to PNs working in general practice. Future analyses will determine if the education program plus other initiatives can increase testing rates.
Additional keywords: Australia, barriers, general practice, sexually transmissible infections.
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