Service attributes and the choice for STD health services in persons seeking a medical examination for an STD

This article examines choice for STD health services among patients suspecting a STD. A total of 825 patients who sought medical treatment at an STD clinic, a Family Planning Clinic or a General Practitioner participated in this study. Special STD clinics are not well known among patients visiting their GP or a Family Planning Clinic. Both perceived unprofessionality and embarrassment were reasons for not asking a GP for medical treatment and for not being loyal to their GP after a first visit. Most respondents evaluate the 16 service attributes as important and/or annoying. Differences in beliefs and evaluations about the separate service attributes existed between the three choice behavior groups. The results of this study may be useful in making persuasive arguments for the existence of special STD clinics, especially when competing for limited resources. However, attitudes to service attributes and social norms explained only 24% of the variance in scores between the three choice behavior groups. This means that other factors (have to) play a role in actual choice behavior. Future research should take into account factors, such as: personality traits, perceived behavioral control and confidentiality.