Survey of general practitioner satisfaction with a district communicable disease control service

General practitioners (GPs) have an important role in disease surveillance and control, and are therefore a key target audience for a district communicable disease control (CDC) service. The feedback of surveillance information, and the provision of policies, guidance and specialist advice, are essential functions of a CDC service. This survey was undertaken to assess how well a CDC service was meeting the needs of GPs. Satisfaction with the service was assessed using a questionnaire survey of 166 GPs. The response rate was 42%. GPs reported a high level of overall satisfaction. The service was valued and it influenced GP practice. The service was valued more for responses to requests for information and assistance than for communicable disease control policies. The highest satisfaction was expressed for communication and for immunisation advice. Several areas of need were identified, including the need for surveillance information on antibiotic resistance and for sexually transmitted infections. The survey tool is recommended as a way of auditing standards for Good Public Health Practice, as identified by the Faculty of Public Health Medicine.