Why not the GP? Client preferences for sexually transmissible infection testing in Western Sydney

Background Publicly funded sexual health services (PFSHS) in NSW use triage to prioritise access for people at increased risk of infection and refer people at lower risk to General Practitioners (GPs). This study aimed to determine why people in Western Sydney attend a PFSHS in preference to their GP, whether they would be willing to see their GP for sexual health services and what factors were important when making this decision. Methods: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was used for this study. Results: In total, 228/249 (92%) of all respondents had visited a GP in the previous 12 months; 192/249 (77%) knew the GP could perform sexually transmissible infection testing (STI) testing; 124/249 (50%) had ever had a STI check with a GP and 101/249 (41%) were willing to attend a GP service for STI-related care in the future. Factors relating to the health service staff and client comfort emerged as strong reasons for choice of health service. One-third of non-priority clients (33%) were unwilling to see a GP for STI testing in the future. Respondents raised concerns regarding perceived issues with confidentiality and lack of confidence in the GP’s expertise in sexual health. Conclusions: The underlying factors relating to sexual health care with the GP, whether real or perceived, need to be addressed in order for PFSHS to successfully triage out attendees who are at a lower STI risk.

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Association between sexually transmissible infection testing, numbers of partners and talking to partners and friends about sexual health: survey of young adults

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh16076 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 378 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Natalie A. Hendry ◽

Graham Brown ◽

Gary W. Dowsett ◽

Marina Carman

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Young Adults ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Health Knowledge ◽

Sexual Partners ◽

Group Method ◽

Friendship Networks ◽

Sti Testing ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽

Transmissible Infection

Background Young adults, aged 18–30 years, comprise the largest proportion of sexually transmissible infection (STI) notifications in Australia compared with other age groups. Understanding the influence of partner and friendship networks on their STI testing practices may enhance health promotion efforts to increase testing for this group. Method: Participants aged 21–30 years, living in Australia for ≥3 years, were recruited within nightlife precincts in Melbourne, Australia. They completed a survey on demographic items, sexual health attitudes, sexual health knowledge and STI testing experiences and perceptions. Responses to items related to talking to partners and friends about STI testing were allocated partner and friend communication scores. Analyses included χ2 tests of independence and independent sample t-tests. Results: Overall, 36.5% (61/167) of participants had tested for STIs in the previous 12 months. Of those who had tested for STIs, most had significantly higher numbers of sexual partners in the same period (P < 0.05), and were significantly more likely to have felt at risk of STI acquisition (P < 0.05). Significantly greater mean partner and friend communication scores were associated with higher numbers of sexual partners, feeling at risk of STIs, and testing for STIs in the previous 12 months (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences when participants were stratified by gender or age. Conclusion: Talking to partners and friends about STI testing is associated with testing rates for young adults. Feeling at risk and increased numbers of sexual partners may be associated with the promotion of STI testing among friends and partners.

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Advertising sexual health services that provide sexually transmissible infection screening for rural young people - what works and what doesn't

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh10144 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 407 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Deepa G. Gamage ◽

Candice A. Fuller ◽

Rosey Cummings ◽

Jane E. Tomnay ◽

Mark Chung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Health Services ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Health Centre ◽

What Works ◽

Web Advertisement ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽

Transmissible Infection

Background ‘TESTme’ is a sexually transmissible infection (STI) screening service for Victorian young people living in rural areas. We evaluated the effectiveness of advertising for this service over an 11-month pilot period. Methods: The advertising that was used included websites, a Facebook page, posters, flyers, business cards, wrist bands and professional development sessions for health nurses that occurred throughout the pilot period. We also used once-off methods including advertisements in newspapers, student diaries and short messages to mobile phones. Results: Twenty-eight clients had a consultation through TESTme. Twenty found the service through health professionals, six through the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) web page, one through the Facebook page and one through the student diary. The total direct costs incurred by the centre for advertising were $20 850. The advertising cost per client reached for each advertising method was $26 for health professionals, $80 for the MSHC web advertisement, $1408 for Facebook and $790 for the student diary. Other advertising methods cost $12 248 and did not attract any clients. Conclusion: Advertising STI health services for rural young people would be best to focus on referrals from other health services or health care websites.

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Use of incentives to encourage sexually transmissible infection testing amongst sex-on-premises venue patrons

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh12132 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 156 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brett Stevens ◽

Joseph Debattista ◽

William Rutkin

Keyword(s):

Sexual Health ◽

Free Entry ◽

Health Clinics ◽

Sti Testing ◽

Clinical Consultation ◽

General Practices ◽

Sexual Health Clinics ◽

First Time ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽

Transmissible Infection

Background Incentives have been explored as a strategy for increasing access to sexually transmissible infection (STI) testing. This project sought to trial the offer of free entry to sex-on-premises venues (SOPVs) for venue patrons as an incentive to access sexual health checks. Method: SOPV patrons were offered free entry into venues if they took advantage of sexual health testing at a range of clinics. Patrons were given testing cards from the SOPV that could be exchanged at the time of the clinical consultation for a free entry pass to the SOPV of their choice. Cards collected at clinics and SOPVs were collated. Results: In total, 244 cards were distributed to patrons from four venues over a 6-month period. Ten persons accessed one of the six clinical sites, one person attending twice. Of these persons, five attended two general practices and the remaining five accessed public sexual health clinics. Of these 10 persons, three used their free entry passes to attend an SOPV. Two persons accessed these clinical sites for the first time, one of whom tested reactive for an STI. Another regular attendee also tested reactive. Conclusion: Despite the low uptake, the free entry promotion was inexpensive and could, given sufficient time, be considered an effective incentive. Nonetheless, this study may have contributed to at least two new persons undertaking testing, one of whom was diagnosed with an STI.

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Do callers to the NSW Sexual Health Infoline attend the services they are referred to?

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh13106 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 530 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Margy Ewing ◽

Phillip Read ◽

Vickie Knight ◽

Samantha Morgan ◽

Mark Hanlon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Services ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Health Information ◽

Phone Call ◽

Publicly Funded ◽

Sexual Health Information ◽

Referral Line ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽

Transmissible Infection

BackgroundThe NSW Sexual Health Infoline (SHIL) is a free and confidential sexual health information and referral line. The ability of Australian sexual health helplines to facilitate successful referrals has not been studied. In the present study, we sought to determine whether callers were successful in accessing the publicly funded sexual health services (PFSHS) or general practitioners (GP) they were referred to. Methods: Callers to SHIL who were directly referred to a PFSHS or GP for HIV and/or sexually transmissible infection testing from 3 January to 31 March 2012 were offered a follow-up phone call 1 week later. Results: Of 474 eligible callers, 190 (40%) agreed to disclose a first name and contact details and to be contacted by a study nurse on an agreed-upon date. One hundred and twenty (63%) callers were successfully contacted 1 week later; of these, 85% had attended or had a future appointment booked for testing. Conclusions: We conclude that among the study sample that was successfully followed up, most callers to the SHIL had attended or booked appointments to the services they were referred to.

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Young women's misperceptions about sexually transmissible infection testing: a 'clean and clear' misunderstanding

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh07060 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 273 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Sara K. Head ◽

Richard A. Crosby ◽

Lydia A. Shrier ◽

Gregory R. Moore

Keyword(s):

Young Women ◽

Sexual Debut ◽

Risk Behaviour ◽

Healthcare Setting ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviour ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sti Testing ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽

Transmissible Infection

Background: This exploratory study investigated young women’s perceptions of sexually transmissible infection (STI) testing received during gynaecological care. Correlates of the incorrect perception that STI testing occurred were assessed. Methods: Cross-sectional study of sexually active young women, age 18–24 years, attending a university healthcare setting for gynaecological care (n = 109). Two hundred and four women were approached and 87 were ineligible; of the remaining 117, 93.2% chose to enrol. Results: Of the women enrolled, 25.7% falsely perceived that they were STI tested (labelled ‘clean and clear’). Only approximately one in seven (14.7%) accurately understood the STI for which they were tested. In multivariate analyses, controlling for race, STI symptoms, depression, number of lifetime visits to the gynaecologist, and suspicion of current STI, three variables were significant: minority race (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.84, confidence interval (CI) = 1.38–16.96, P = 0.01), earlier age at sexual debut (AOR = 4.67, CI = 1.73–12.57, P = 0.002), and previous STI diagnosis (AOR = 3.38, CI = 1.07–10.66, P = 0.04). Comment: The findings suggest that many young women may have an inaccurate understanding of the STI testing they undergo during gynaecological care and may operate under the misperception they are ‘clean and clear’ of STI. Women with said misperception were more likely to be of minority race and report relatively earlier age of sexual debut and previous STI diagnosis. Further investigation is warranted to determine whether the ‘clean and clear’ misperception influences young women’s sexual risk behaviour.

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Addressing sexually transmissible infection in HIV-positive patients. A clinical audit

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh06059 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 75 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Danielle Esler ◽

Catriona Ooi

Keyword(s):

New England ◽

Clinical Audit ◽

Sexual History ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

History Taking ◽

Health Unit ◽

Sti Testing ◽

Sexual History Taking ◽

Sexually Transmissible Infection ◽

Transmissible Infection

Australian guidelines for sexual history taking and sexually transmissible infection (STI) screening of HIV-positive patients do not exist. An audit was conducted to assess current practices of sexual history taking and STI testing of HIV-positive patients attending Hunter New England Sexual Health Unit.

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Integrated community-based sexual health services for young people in urban areas: are we meeting the needs of the local community?

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1258/ijsa.2008.008055 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 19 (10) ◽

pp. 713-714 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

K M Forbes ◽

N Rahman ◽

S Mccrae ◽

I Reeves

Keyword(s):

Health Services ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Local Community ◽

Local Population ◽

Nucleic Acid Amplification ◽

Community Based ◽

Transmitted Infection ◽

Sti Testing ◽

Hiv Test

Community-based sexual health services (SHS) are intended to improve access for people who may have difficulty attending traditional genitourinary medicine clinics. The objective of this study was to review uptake of sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing in an outreach clinic for those under 25 in an area where Black and minority ethnic groups comprise the majority of the local population. A retrospective case-notes review was undertaken of those attending. Standards were that Fraser guidelines should be completed in all under 16-year-old and all clients should be offered STI testing, HIV testing and contraception (if applicable) in accordance with local standards. One hundred and seventeen clients attended. Ten percent self-reported ethnicity was Asian. Thirty-six (31%) clients tested for chlamydia. Thirty (26%) had an HIV test. Five (14% of those tested) had a positive nucleic acid amplification test for chlamydia. Five (13%) of those requesting long term contraception had STI testing. This service has successfully improved access to STI screening. However, there may have been missed opportunities to offer tests in those requesting contraception. Under-representation of those of non-white ethnicity suggests access to SHS may be a particular problem and further work is required to improve the sexual health of the local community.

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