Associations between gynecologic clinician type and routine female sexual dysfunction screening

Area of Science:

• Women's Health
• Sexual Health
• Clinical Practice

Background:

• Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is prevalent, yet screening rates by healthcare providers remain low (14%-40%).
• Limited data exists on how different types of clinicians impact FSD screening rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare FSD screening rates across various gynecology clinician types.
• To identify factors associated with FSD screening.
• To benchmark FSD screening against established screening protocols for other conditions.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of annual visits at an urban tertiary care center.
• Calculation and comparison of screening rates for FSD, depression, cervical cancer, and breast cancer.
• Multivariable logistic regression to identify patient characteristics correlated with FSD screening.

Main Results:

• FSD screening was significantly higher among resident clinicians (59%) compared to non-resident clinicians (31%).
• Among non-residents, certified nurse midwives had the highest screening odds (OR, 0.41), followed by nurse practitioners (OR, 0.29) and attending physicians (OR, 0.22).
• Factors increasing FSD screening likelihood included being seen by a resident, patient history of FSD, age ≥40, reported sexual activity, and history of cervical procedures.

Conclusions:

• Resident clinicians demonstrate higher FSD screening rates than attending physicians, NPs, and CNMs.
• Understanding variations in screening by clinician type is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
• Strategies to enhance FSD screening are needed to improve women's sexual health outcomes.