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Background Moving clinical guidelines into practise requires the development of clinical knowledge products to aid family practitioners. A variety of product types and formats may need to be used to suit different needs by career-stage. Methods To evaluate the sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) knowledge product needs of practitioners, information was elicited from a convenience sample (N = 207) of family medicine practitioners at a national Canadian family medicine forum in Toronto between November 15 and 17, 2013. Analysis was stratified by years of practise to identify ways to reach different generations of practitioners concerning STI and HIV clinical recommendations. The Fishers exact and chi-square test was used to determine statistical significance. Data was collected on preferences on clinical aids; methods used to update clinical knowledge; and preferred formats of accessing STI guidelines. Results All practitioners expressed preferences for concise clinical aids such as algorithms (64.2%) and abbreviated pocket guides (35.3%), in addition to prompts on electronic medical records (32.9%). On-line training and education were preferred by early-career practitioners ( Conclusions These findings demonstrate generational differences in preferred formats and methods of accessing STI and HIV clinical information; public health programmes may wish to deliver information using different approaches to reach different practitioners.

Background Clinical guidelines play a critical role in the prevention and control of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs). Little is known in Canada as to the uptake of clinical recommendations and the comfort-level of family practitioners performing STBBI-related clinical tasks. Methods To evaluate the prevention and control of STBBIs by family practitioners, information was elicited from a convenience sample (N = 207) of family practitioners at a national Canadian family medicine forum in Toronto between November 15 and 17, 2012 using two methods: audience response systems (during a symposium) and a self-administered questionnaire at an exhibition booth. Analysis was stratified by years of practise to identify any differences in STI risk assessments, treatment of gonorrhoea and offering of HIV testing. The Fisher’s exact and chi-square tests were used to determine statistical significance. Results Approximately 26.3% of early-career-practitioners ( Conclusions Results indicate a need to improve uptake of STI and HIV clinical recommendations among all practitioners, but particularly among mid-to-late-career practitioners.