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Table 3 Practice nurse opinions and perceived barriers to chlamydia testing

From: The chlamydia knowledge, awareness and testing practices of Australian general practitioners and practice nurses: survey findings from the Australian Chlamydia Control Effectiveness Pilot (ACCEPt)

Opinion statement

Agree/strongly agree n (%)

Disagree/strongly disagree n (%)

Neither agree/disagree n (%)

PNs can conduct chlamydia testing in general practice

102 (89.5)

12 (4.4)

7 (6.1)

PNs should have a greater role in chlamydia testing

90 (78.9)

3 (2.6)

21 (18.4)

PNs require additional training/skills to manage chlamydia testing and treatment

100 (88.5)

6 (5.3)

7 (6.2)

I would like to be more involved with chlamydia testing in my practice

88 (78.6)

3 (2.7)

21 (18.7)

I would like to be involved with managing a recall/reminder system for chlamydia testing

84 (75)

7 (6.2)

21 (18.8)

I would like to be involved with discussing partner notification with patients who test positive for chlamydia

68 (60.7)

17 (15.2)

27 (24.1)

Possible barriers to increasing chlamydia testing

Yes n (%)

No n (%)

Not sure n (%)

Concerns about over servicing

5 (4.4)

81 (70.4)

29 (25.2)

Cost of testing to client

23 (20.5)

72 (64.3)

17 (15.2)

Time constraints

59 (52.7)

41 (36.6)

12 (10.7)

Difficulty talking with clients about sexual health

24 (21.4)

70 (62.5)

18 (16.1)

Lack of support for practice nurses

28 (25.5)

63 (57.3)

19 (17.2)

Chance of patients getting false positive

11 (9.8)

65 (58.1)

36 (32.1)

Patients lack of chlamydia knowledge

78 (69.1)

24 (21.2)

11 (9.7)

Religion/ethnicity of patient

37 (32.7)

51 (45.2)

25 (22.1)

Lack of formal chlamydia test recall/reminder system

52 (46.4)

42 (37.5)

18 (16.1)

Lack of support for partner notification

51 (46)

31 (27.9)

29 (26.1)

  1. PN, practice nurse.