Table 2 Barriers and facilitators to increasing chlamydia screening in general practice

Concerns about over-serving

74 (68, 80)

6 (3, 9)

20 (15, 25)

The cost of testing to the client

72 (70, 77)

7 (4, 10)

21 (16, 30)

Time constraints during the consultation

32 (26, 38)

6 (3, 9)

62 (56, 68)

Difficulty in talking with patients about sexual health issues

74 (68, 79)

8 (5, 12)

18 (13, 23)

The chance of getting a false positive result on testing

73 (67, 78)

16 (12, 21)

10 (7, 15)

Concerns that some pathology providers prefer swabs rather than urine specimens for chlamydia testing

67 (61, 73)

16 (12, 21)

17 (12, 22)

Patient's lack of knowledge about chlamydia

58 (51, 64)

9 (6, 13)

33 (27, 39)

Religion or ethnicity of patient

50 (43, 56)

19 (14, 24)

31 (25, 37)

Lack of a formal recall/reminder system for chlamydia testing

40 (34, 46)

19 (14, 24)

41 (35, 47)

Lack of support for partner notification/following up of the partners of positive cases

39 (33, 46)

22 (17, 28)

39 (33, 35)

Facilitators

If there was a recognised national chlamydia screening program

4 (2, 7)

3 (1, 6)

93 (89, 96)

If payment was available for a practice nurse to discuss chlamydia testing with patients and conduct the testing

21 (16, 27)

9 (6, 13)

70 (63, 75)

If there were national guidelines recommending who should be screened and tested for chlamydia

3 (1, 6)

5 (3, 9)

92 (87, 94)

If there was an incentive payment to GPs for each chlamydia testing performed

9 (6, 13)

7 (4, 11)

83 (78, 88)

If GPs had more knowledge on how to manage chlamydia infected patients

36 (30, 43)

13 (9, 18)

50 (43, 56)

If there was an organised chlamydia education program for the general public

4 (2, 8)

5 (3, 9)

90 (85, 93)

If there was a recall/reminder system

10 (6, 14)

13 (9, 17)

77 (71, 82)