Survey on STI service quality of public medical institutions

  Objective   Survey and assessment were conducted to the STI service quality of public medical institutions at the pilot Sichuan and Yunnan, so as to inform and advise on improvement of STI services and targeted interventions.

  Methods   All STD clinics and the dermatology departments, urology departments and obstetrics and gynecology departments of some general hospital at the six sites in Sichuan and Yunnan were surveyed.Management of STI cases by the doctors at the surveyed medical institutions was studied by direct observation on interviews with the doctors.

  Results   Totally 81 doctors from public medical institutions were observed for their diagnosis and treatment of 76 STD cases and 5 cases of GDS and lower abdominal pain.In addition, 94 doctors were interviewed.According to the assessment indicators of WHO/GPA, the proportion of standar dized case management remained low(PI-6)with over-treatment and a few cases of improper treatment, specifically, 10% in Sichuan and 14.3% in Yunnan.The proportion of doctors who recommended condom use and partner no tification(PI-7)was 88.3% in Sichuan and 57.1% in Yunan.The rate for over all service quality(PI-6+7)was 10.0% in Sichuan and 4.8% in Yunnan.

  Conclusion   The STD diagnosis and treatment provided by doctors at public medical institutions including STD clinics and general hospitals were not sat isfactory.Consciousness prevention of ser vices was weak.It was necessary to reinforce the professional trainings for medical staff on diagnosis and treatment of STD/AIDS, and to further improve the quality of STD services.