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

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.