The findings and conclusions in these presentations have not been formally disseminated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - 10:30 AM
C1b

Clinician understanding of regional screening criteria and screening practices in older women

Robert McKenna and Catherine E. Wright. TRAINING 3, Family Planning Council, 260 South Broad Street, Suite 1000, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Chlamydia screening guidelines recommend that females aged 25 and under be screened for chlamydia annually, and females over age 25 be tested as medically indicated. However, the extent to which clinicians know of and abide by these guidelines is not well known. TRAINING 3, the Regional Training Center, administered a survey to Title-X funded family planning clinic staff throughout Region III which included questions on chlamydia screening. Many respondents reported that their clinical practice was counter to official age-based screening recommendations. Results may suggest a need for greater dissemination of screening recommendations, and clinician education on screening versus diagnostic testing.