Adoption of Thayer-Martin culture medium by physicians in office-based practice

In the summer of 1972, 26.4% of 900 physicians surveyed in the United States reported that they had performed one or more endocervical cultures for gonorrhea during a week of study. Obstetrician-gynecologists (62.8%) were considerably more likely than others to employ this diagnostic technique. The use of Thayer-Martin cultures was associated with the number of women examined and type of laboratory used (public, private or hospital), but not region of practice (East, Midwest, South, of West), area of practice (urban, suburban, or rural), or month of interview (July, August, or September). Results of this survey are consistent with the diffusion of innovation model proposed by Rogers.