Managing Sexually Transmissible Infections in Clinical Practice: Evidence from New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are on the increase in Australia. The considerable health, psychosocial, and economic consequences of STIs underscores the need for their better prevention and control. As primary health care providers, general practitioners (GPs) with their incomparable access to the Australian population are best placed to provide effective sexual health services. However, earlier research suggests that there are inconsistencies in the provision of clinical care for STIs in general practice in Australia, although little is known about STI care by GPs in the state of New South Wales (NSW). The purpose of this study is to develop an understanding of how STIs are managed in general practice, and to examine how STI care in general practice differs to that in specialised practice staffed by sexual health physicians (SHPs).