Setting up a surveillance system for sexually transmitted diseases in the general population with prospective data collection from private-practice and public-practice doctors in Hong Kong

2011

Surveillance System for STDs in Hong Kong

Sample size: 277 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Lau Joseph TF, Lin Chunqing, Ho King Man, Lau Man Chun, Tsui Hi Yi, Gu Jing, Lo Kuen Kong

Primary Institution: Centre for Health Behaviours Research, School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Hypothesis

Can a surveillance system for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) be effectively established in Hong Kong by including data from both private and public doctors?

Conclusion

The study found that relying solely on public health data for STD surveillance is inadequate, and an improved system that includes private-practice doctors is feasible.

Supporting Evidence

96% of private-practice doctors found the log-form easy to complete.
75% believed it was feasible to implement similar studies annually.
The ratio of STD cases diagnosed by private-practice versus public-practice doctors was 4:1.
0.75% of private patients and 40.92% of public patients presented STD/RTI syndromes.

Takeaway

This study shows that many people with STDs go to private doctors instead of public clinics, so we need to include both types of doctors to get a better idea of how many people are affected.

Methodology

Doctors filled out daily log-forms for 15 days to record STD/RTI cases, and data was projected for the entire population using stratification methods.