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Knowledge of sexually-transmitted infections among patients in an urban emergency medicine department
Thesis

Knowledge of sexually-transmitted infections among patients in an urban emergency medicine department

Julie Moon
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Drexel University
Jun 2012
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-3952
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Moon_Julie_2012695.58 kB
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Abstract

Emergency Department Sexually-Transmitted Infections Urban Areas Public Health
Background: Patients affected by STI-related illness often enter the emergency department (ED) seeking medical evaluation, but little is known about these patients' general knowledge on STIs. Goal: The goal was to access ED patients' basic knowledge about STIs, to gauge ED patients' self-reported knowledge of STIs, and to determine effective sources of STI knowledge. Study Design: Quantitative data were collected from a convenient sample of incoming patients in an urban ED with chief complaints of potentially STI-related illness. These patients were asked by research associates to complete a 48-item anonymous survey during their visit. Qualitative follow-up data were collected via personal interviews. Results: In the 376 completed surveys from patients in the emergency department (ED), ages were reported as 18 to 81 years (mean [± SD], 37.66 ± 15.035). 274 (72.9%) respondents were female and 100 (26.6%) respondents were male. The highest response rate was from individuals describing their race as Black (N=196; 52.1%) or White (N=120; 31.9%). One third of respondents reported having had an STI in their lifetime (N=120; 31.9%) and two-thirds reported having never had an STI in their lifetime (N=243, 64.6%). Of those having had an STI in their lifetime, the majority had an STI only once (N=58; 48.33%), and had only one kind of STI (N=61; 50.83%). Of a list of 15 infections, only 20 (5%) respondents of 376 total respondents correctly named all infections that are sexually- or not sexually-transmitted. Respondents more often described the prognoses of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and HIV correctly than incorrectly (all p<0.0001). Respondents more often described the prognosis of Syphilis incorrectly than correctly (p<0.0001). Respondents were 2.33 times more likely to self-report having an above average knowledge on HIV than Gonorrhea, Syphilis and Chlamydia combined (p<0.0001). Respondents were 68% times as likely to self-report having a below average knowledge on Syphilis than HIV, Gonorrhea, and Chlamydia, combined (p<0.0001). There was no significant difference of knowledge on Gonorrhea or Chlamydia than the other three STIs combined (p=0.119 and p=0.84). Of all respondents, school was the most commonly reported source of STI information for all four STIs: Chlamydia (48.71%), Gonorrhea (52.79%), Syphilis (48.77%), HIV (61.70%). Family and friends were not strong sources of STI information (p<0.0001). Conclusions: Patients entering the ED are more likely to know health-related information about HIV, less about Syphilis, and average amount on Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. ED patients report school as the most common source of STI knowledge.

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