Free online chlamydia and gonorrhoea urine test request in Queensland: sexually transmissible infections testing can be hard for young people even if the process is easy

Sexual Health ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 543
Author(s):  
Anita Groos ◽  
Shelley Peardon-Freeman ◽  
Kim McFarlane ◽  
Simone Braithwaite ◽  
Deepa Gajjar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Urine Test ◽  
Testing Service ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽  
Urine Testing ◽  
Test Request

Online options to request sexually transmissible infections testing are increasingly popular and a free online chlamydia and gonorrhoea urine testing service is available for people living in Queensland, Australia. Data from 3 August 2017 to 31 August 2019 provide information for 1316 reminder calls to young people (aged 16–29 years) to encourage sample submission. The reminder calls generated few additional samples for testing, suggesting young people may have changed their mind about using the service, sought testing elsewhere or were reluctant to talk further about their original decision to request a test online.

Attitudes to chlamydia screening in general practice among Australian university students: a pilot study

Sexual Health ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernadette Zakher ◽  
Melissa Kang
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Young People ◽  
University Students ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Chlamydia Infection ◽  
Chlamydia Screening ◽  
Sexually Active ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections

Background: Chlamydia screening of sexually active young people in general practice is key to the Australian National Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy 2005–2008. Overseas research indicates that young people have positive attitudes towards opportunistic screening by a general practitioner (GP). This pilot study aims to investigate the attitudes of Australian university students towards chlamydia screening in primary care. Methods: Students (16–25 years) attending a class in one of three faculties at the University of Sydney participated by completing a questionnaire, which collected information about demographics, sexual history, chlamydia knowledge, attitudes towards and preferences for chlamydia screening. Results: One hundred and eighty-five students (78% female) returned questionnaires (participation rate 92%). Arts students were younger, more likely to be sexually active and to report having little or no knowledge of chlamydia. Males in the study were less likely to have had sex as a group compared to the group of females in the sample. Science students were also less likely to have had sex compared to their counterparts in other faculties. Seventy-six percent of students were comfortable with opportunistic testing for chlamydia by their GP. Reasons for not being comfortable included ‘don’t think I’m at risk’ (65%) and ‘not comfortable discussing sexual matters with my GP’ (38%). Although comfortable with GP-based testing, the likelihood of being tested in the upcoming year for most students was low, as was personal concern about chlamydia infection. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the most at risk group for chlamydia infection is not well educated about their risk of infection. The limited numbers of tests among sexually active individuals in this sample indicate that health practitioners are not screening this high-risk group for chlamydia infection.

FGFR testing from matched tissue and urine samples within the prospective real world clinico-pathological register trial BRIDGister.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e16532-e16532
Author(s):  
Ralph M. Wirtz ◽  
Richard Watts ◽  
Ronny Kellner ◽  
Reinhard Ortmann ◽  
Torsten Horns ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Benign Lesion ◽  
Digital Pcr ◽  
Urine Samples ◽  
Urine Test ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Commercial Kits ◽  
Urine Testing ◽  
Matched Tissue

e16532 Background: The objective of the present study was to assess FGFR mutattions and fusions from matched urine and tissue samples from patients suspicious of bladder cancer and undergoing first TURB at the pilot center of the multicentric BRIDGister RealWorld Experience trial Methods: For this pilot study paraffin fixed pretreatment tissue samples from the first TURB of 28 pts participating in the BRIDGister trial and matched urine samples were prospectively collected and analyzed. RNA from FFPE tissues were extracted by commercial kits and analyzed by Therascreen FGFR IVD kit (Qiagen GmbH, Hilden). In addition urine samples were shipped for central isolation of extracellular vesicles and extraction of RNA (exoRNA.Exosome Diagnostics GmbH, Martinsried) and subsequently centrally analyzed by QIAcuity digital PCR (Qiagen, Hilden). Additional urine testing was performed by further technologies including central cytology. Concordance, Kruskal-Wallis, MannWhitney and Sensitivity/Specificity tests were analyzed by JMP 9.0.0 (SAS software). Results: The pilot cohort of the BRIDGister trial consisted of 28 patients (median age: 73, male 71% vs female 29%) of diverse clinical stages (Benign lesions/no tumor 21%, pTa 32%, pT1 21%, pT2 21%) and WHO 1973 grade (G1 7%, G2 43%, G3 21%). Based on FFPE tissue testing using Therascreen FGFR IVD kit 9 out of 28 patients exhibited FGFR alterations (32%). Based on exosomal RNA (exoRNA) and subsequent dPCR testing 8 out of 21 matched urine sampels were FGFR positive (38%). Comparison with tissue testing as probable gold standard revealed 71% sensitivity, 78% specificity, 63% PPV and 85%NPV. There were 3 patients being FGFR positive for exoRNA from urine with no mutation found in the corresponding TUR biopsy. One of these mutations could be validated by independent urine test. Furthermore one tumor harbored two tissue mutations (R248C, Y373C) but three urine mutations (R248C, Y373C, G370C) indicating substantial tumor heterogeneity. One FGFR3-TACC3 fusion was detected from a benign lesion, which was not found by the exosomal urine test. Conclusions: Extraction of exosomal RNA from urine followed by highly sensitive dPCR mutation testing is feasible with good concordance to matched tissue testing. Urine testing bears the potential of detecting additional mutations in a real world setting and might evolve as alternative approach for FGFR3 screening in a non invasive fashion without the need of transurethral biopsy. Discordant cases are further followed up and might reveal validation of mutation status in upcoming recurrences.Further exploration is warranted and includes the potential of monitoring patients with FGFR before and after therapeutic intervention. By the time of the congress an update of the data with approximately 50 matched pairs will be presented.

Contextual and behavioural risk factors for sexually transmissible infections in young Aboriginal people in central Australia: a qualitative study

Sexual Health ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 198
Author(s):  
Colin Watson ◽  
Kirsty Smith ◽  
Ahmed Latif ◽  
Wendy Armstrong ◽  
James Ward ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Young People ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Aboriginal People ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Casual Sex ◽  
Health Programs ◽  
Contextual Risk ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽  
Central Australia

Rates of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) in remote central Australian Aboriginal communities have been persistently high for over two decades, yet risk factors for STIs in these communities are not well understood. This qualitative study explored behavioural and contextual risk factors for STIs in young Aboriginal people in central Australia. The study identified that casual relationships between young people are common and that there is a strong association between travel, alcohol and casual sex, highlighting the ongoing need for comprehensive sexual health programs that are tailored to the specific social, cultural and interpersonal circumstances of young people in this setting.

scholarly journals Identifying and understanding barriers to sexually transmissible infection testing among young people

Sexual Health ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Oliver de Visser ◽  
Nancy O'Neill
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Injunctive Norms ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Perceived Susceptibility ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Sti Testing ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽  
Sexual Histories

Background To counter the disproportionate impact of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) among young people and encourage higher levels of STI testing, it is necessary to identify the factors that influence STI testing. Methods: A mixed-methods study incorporating a cross-sectional quantitative survey and qualitative analysis of individual interviews was conducted in England. Some 275 university students aged 17–25 years completed an online questionnaire. Interviews were conducted with a purposively selected sample of eight men and women. Results: Multivariate analysis of quantitative data revealed that injunctive norms (i.e. a desire to comply with others’ wishes for testing), descriptive norms (i.e. perceptions of others’ behaviour) and shame related to STIs predicted past testing behaviour. Intention to undergo testing was predicted by greater perceived susceptibility, past testing, stronger injunctive norms and greater willingness to disclose sexual histories. Qualitative analysis of interview data confirmed the importance of perceived susceptibility, normative beliefs, stigma and shame, and perceived ease of testing. Conclusions: To increase STI testing among young people, there is a need to promote pro-testing norms, address low perceived susceptibility and make testing easier.

scholarly journals Feasibility of a Mobile Phone App to Support Recovery From Addiction in China: Secondary Analysis of a Pilot Study (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Han ◽  
Jing Ying Zhang ◽  
Yih-Ing Hser ◽  
Di Liang ◽  
Xu Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Health Messages ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Urine Test ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Urine Testing ◽  
Experimental Group

BACKGROUND Mobile health technologies have been found to improve the self-management of chronic diseases. However, there is limited research regarding their feasibility in supporting recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs) in China. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of a mobile phone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) app by testing the concordance of drug use assessed by the EMA, urine testing, and a life experience timeline (LET) assessment. METHODS A total of 75 participants dependent on heroin or amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) in Shanghai were recruited to participate in a 4-week pilot study. Of the participants, 50 (67% [50/75]) were randomly assigned to the experimental group and 25 (33% [25/75]) were assigned to the control group. The experimental group used mobile health (mHealth) based EMA technology to assess their daily drug use in natural environments and received 2 short health messages each day, whereas the control group only received 2 short health messages each day from the app. Urine tests and LET assessments were conducted each week and a post-intervention survey was administered to both groups. The correlations among the EMA, the LET assessment, and the urine test were investigated. RESULTS The mean age of the participants was 41.6 (SD 8.0) years, and 71% (53/75) were male. During the 4 weeks of observation, 690 daily EMA survey data were recorded, with a response rate of 49.29% (690/1400). With respect to drug use, the percent of agreement between the EMA and the LET was 66.7%, 79.2%, 72.4%, and 85.8%, respectively, for each of the 4 weeks, whereas the percent of agreement between the EMA and the urine test was 51.2%, 65.1%, 61.9%, and 71.5%, respectively. The post-intervention survey indicated that 46% (32/70) of the participants preferred face-to-face interviews rather than the mHealth app. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated poor agreement between the EMA data and the LET and found that the acceptance of mHealth among individuals with SUDs in China was not positive. Hence, greater efforts are needed to improve the feasibility of mHealth in China.

scholarly journals The sexual behaviours of adolescents aged between 14 and 17 years involved with the juvenile justice system in Australia: A community-based survey

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0243633
Author(s):  
Lorraine Yap ◽  
Jocelyn Jones ◽  
Basil Donovan ◽  
Sally Nathan ◽  
Elizabeth Sullivan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Juvenile Justice System ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Youth Health ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Sexual Behaviours ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections

Objectives To overcome key knowledge gaps in relation to justice involved and vulnerable young people and their sexual health and to compare this group with their peers from other youth health surveys in Australia to determine the extent of the issues. Methods Young people, aged between 14 and 17 years, who had ever been or were currently involved with the criminal justice system were purposively sampled. The survey was anonymous and delivered using Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI). Results A total of 465 justice involved MeH-JOSH young people, aged between 14 and 17 years, participated in the study: 44% Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) and 37% not attending school. Of the total valid responses, 76% (n = 348) reported having ever had sex, with sexual initiation at a median age of 14 years. We compared these data with their peers in other Australian surveys and found that young people in our study had a higher engagement in sex and start having sex at a younger age, reporting more sexual partners at all ages. Conclusions The sexual behaviours of young people involved in the justice system in this study suggest they may be at a greater risk for sexually transmissible infections than their age-matched peers in the general population. Policymakers should elevate them to a priority population for targeting sexual health services and health promotion.

Changing pattern of sexually transmissible infections and HIV diagnosed in public sexual health services compared with other locations in New South Wales, 2010–14

Sexual Health ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Bourne ◽  
Meeyin Lam ◽  
Christine Selvey ◽  
Rebecca Guy ◽  
Denton Callander
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽  
Annual Proportion ◽  
Priority Population

Background In Australia, testing and treatment for HIV and other sexually transmissible infections (STIs) is usually managed in general practice, while publicly funded sexual health clinics (PFSHC) attract people at higher risk for infection. The proportion of HIV and STI diagnoses in New South Wales (NSW) occurring in PFSHC stratified by priority population was investigated. Methods: From 2010 to 2014, NSW notification frequencies for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, infectious syphilis, and HIV were compared with the number of diagnoses in PFSHC. The annual proportion of diagnoses at PFSHC was calculated and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests assessed trends. Diagnoses from PFSHC were also organised by priority population, including gay and bisexual men (GBM), people living with HIV, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who use injecting drugs, sex workers and young people. Results: The annual proportion of HIV and STIs diagnosed at PFSHC increased (all P < 0.001): chlamydia from 12% to 15%, gonorrhoea 23% to 38%, infectious syphilis 21% to 40% and HIV 22% to 30%. Overall, the majority of all infections diagnosed at PFSHC were among GBM, with the proportional distribution of chlamydia increasing from 32% to 46% among GBM (P < 0.001) and decreasing among young people (50% to 40%; P < 0.001). There were no other significant changes by population or infection at PFSHC. Conclusions: Increasing proportions of STI and HIV are being diagnosed at NSW PFSHC, mostly among GBM. PFSHC reorientation to priority populations continues to make a large and increasing contribution to STI and HIV control efforts in NSW.

scholarly journals Risk perceptions, misperceptions and sexual behaviours among young heterosexual people with gonorrhoea in Perth, Western Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roanna Lobo ◽  
Josephine Rayson ◽  
Jonathan Hallett ◽  
Donna B Mak
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Sexual History ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections

Background Notification rates of gonorrhoea in Australia for heterosexual young adults rose by 63% between 2012 and 2016. In Western Australian major cities, there was a 612% increase among non-Aboriginal females and a 358% increase in non-Aboriginal males in the ten-year period 2007–2016. A qualitative public health investigation was initiated to inform appropriate action. Methods Eighteen semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with non-Aboriginal heterosexual young adults aged 18–34 years living in Perth, Western Australia, who had recently been notified to the Department of Health with gonorrhoea, to explore the context of their sexual interactions and lifestyles which could have predisposed them to contracting gonorrhoea. Data were thematically analysed. Results Common themes were having several casual sexual partners, limited communication between sexual partners about condom use or sexual history prior to engaging in sexual activity, inconsistent condom use, normalisation of some sexually transmissible infections amongst young people, and poor understandings and assessment of sexually transmissible infection risk. Conclusions The findings support public health interventions that focus on communication between sexual partners and shifting of risk perceptions in sexual health education programs, ensuring accessibility of quality sexual health information, increasing condom accessibility and acceptability, and on strategies for addressing misperceptions of young people in relation to sexually transmitted infections.

Free online chlamydia and gonorrhoea urine test request in Queensland, Australia: convenience of home sample collection versus pathology collection centre attendance for faster results

Sexual Health ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Groos ◽  
Shelley Peardon-Freeman ◽  
Kim McFarlane ◽  
Simone Braithwaite ◽  
Deepa Gajjar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urine Test ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Test Request

Clients' views on a piloted telemedicine sexual health service for rural youth

Sexual Health ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameryn C. Garrett ◽  
Maggie Kirkman ◽  
Marcus Y. Chen ◽  
Rosey Cummings ◽  
Candice Fuller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Rural Youth ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Online Video ◽  
Telemedicine Service ◽  
Telephone Consultation ◽  
Sexual Health Service ◽  
Sexually Transmissible Infections ◽  
Rural Access

Background Given the high rate of sexually transmissible infections among young people and limited rural access to specialist healthcare, an Australian telemedicine service was piloted. Clients’ views were investigated. Methods: All clients aged 15–24 were given a questionnaire. A sub-sample was interviewed. Results: The service was used by 25 rural youths aged 15–24; 18 returned the questionnaire, 4 were interviewed. All had a telephone consultation. They reported being satisfied with the service; most preferred the telemedicine service to consulting a doctor in person. Conclusions: Online video consultations for sexual health may not yet be accep to young people in Australia.

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