Habel Melissa A, Scheinmann Roberta, Verdesoto Elizabeth, Gaydos Charlotte, Bertisch Maggie, Chiasson Mary Ann
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-44, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Public Health Solutions, 40 Worth Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY, USA.
Sex Health. 2015 Nov;12(6):472-9. doi: 10.1071/SH15031.
Background This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of pharmacy and home-based sexually transmissible infection (STI) screening as alternate testing venues among emergency contraception (EC) users.
The study included two phases in February 2011-July 2012. In Phase I, customers purchasing EC from eight pharmacies in Manhattan received vouchers for free STI testing at onsite medical clinics. In Phase II, three Facebook ads targeted EC users to connect them with free home-based STI test kits ordered online. Participants completed a self-administered survey.
Only 38 participants enrolled in Phase I: 90% female, ≤29 years (74%), 45% White non-Hispanic and 75% college graduates; 71% were not tested for STIs in the past year and 68% reported a new partner in the past 3 months. None tested positive for STIs. In Phase II, ads led to >45000 click-throughs, 382 completed the survey and 290 requested kits; 28% were returned. Phase II participants were younger and less educated than Phase I participants; six tested positive for STIs. Challenges included recruitment, pharmacy staff participation, advertising with discretion and cost.
This study found low uptake of pharmacy and home-based testing among EC users; however, STI testing in these settings is feasible and the acceptability findings indicate an appeal among younger women for testing in non-traditional settings. Collaborating with and training pharmacy and medical staff are key elements of service provision. Future research should explore how different permutations of expanding screening in non-traditional settings could improve testing uptake and detect additional STI cases.
背景 本研究评估了药房和家庭性传播感染(STI)筛查作为紧急避孕(EC)使用者替代检测场所的可行性和可接受性。
该研究在2011年2月至2012年7月期间包括两个阶段。在第一阶段,从曼哈顿八家药房购买紧急避孕药的顾客可获得在现场医疗诊所免费进行性传播感染检测的代金券。在第二阶段,三个脸书广告针对紧急避孕使用者,将他们与在线订购的免费家庭性传播感染检测试剂盒联系起来。参与者完成了一份自我管理的调查问卷。
第一阶段仅有38名参与者:90%为女性,年龄≤29岁(74%),45%为非西班牙裔白人,75%为大学毕业生;71%在过去一年未进行过性传播感染检测,68%报告在过去3个月有新伴侣。无人检测出性传播感染呈阳性。在第二阶段,广告带来了超过45000次点击,382人完成了调查,290人申请了试剂盒;28%的试剂盒被退回。第二阶段的参与者比第一阶段的参与者更年轻且受教育程度更低;6人检测出性传播感染呈阳性。挑战包括招募、药房工作人员参与、谨慎广告宣传以及成本。
本研究发现紧急避孕使用者对药房和家庭检测的接受度较低;然而,在这些场所进行性传播感染检测是可行的,可接受性调查结果表明非传统场所检测对年轻女性有吸引力。与药房和医务人员合作并对其进行培训是服务提供的关键要素。未来研究应探索在非传统场所扩大筛查的不同组合方式如何能提高检测接受度并发现更多性传播感染病例。