Sexually transmitted diseases as seen by general practitioners in Ireland: use of a telephone survey.

A telephone survey of one of every five general practitioners in the Republic of Ireland was carried out in July 1978 for the purpose of establishing the frequency of diagnosis of venereal diseases during the preceding year. In addition, information was obtained on the subsequent management of the diseases. This type of survey was found to be economical and quick, and the response rate (98.6%) was excellent. The national frequency of diagnosis (per 100,000 population) was estimated from the sample to be 7.7 for syphilis, 97 for gonorrhea, and 2,000 for nonspecific venereal diseases. The rates of reporting of these diseases were less than or equal to 24.3%, 9.8%, and 3.1%, respectively, of the estimated frequencies. Sixty-nine percent of the general practitioners treated the patients themselves; 51% treated on the basis of clinical diagnosis alone.