A sexually transmitted diseases curriculum in adolescent medicine

J. Johnson, J. D. Fortenberry, E. Demetriou, J. G. Zimmerman, R. F. Hill and P. J. Rettig
Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City.

We conducted a needs assessment and developed and evaluated a model curriculum on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) for house officers on an adolescent medicine rotation. Residents thought it important for physicians to acquire skill in treating STDs during residency (mean rating, 4.4 on a five-point scale) and were willing to provide medical care for adolescents likely to have an STD (mean rating, 4.4). Knowledge was measured before and after presentation of both of the two curriculum levels. There were significant increases in knowledge after each level, with a mean increase of 4.4 (of 50 possible) points for level 1 and a mean increase of 1.8 (of 38 possible) points for level 2. This improved knowledge about STDs should reflect increased competence and enhanced willingness to treat STDs in adolescents.