Evaluating the Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases at an Urban Public Hospital Outpatient Clinic

Sexually transmitted diseases occur disproportionately among the poor, are often treated in public hospitals and clinics, and have not been subjected to quality-of-care evaluation. The authors designed a medical record abstraction system using well-established, specific process-of-care criteria drawn from the medical literature and experts and grouped into three levels of quality: excellent, adequate, and minimal. One hundred seventy-six consecutive patients were identified from the clinic logbook and their medical records abstracted. Deficiencies in history taking, physical examination, laboratory testing, treatment, and public health reporting were identified.