OBJECTIVES: To determine the feasibility and efficacy of an online-mediated syphilis screening among men who have sex with men. METHODS: We developed a Web site that offered information about syphilis and motivated users to download a referral letter with which they could test for syphilis in a nonclinical setting. A week after the blood test, participants could retrieve their results online. To assess the feasibility and efficacy of the Web site we followed the users through the online procedure and compared the percentage of syphilis infected men detected online with those diagnosed at the local sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic, during the same time frame. The trial was divided into an initial period of online advertising (4 months) and no advertising (11 months) to examine how advertisements affect usage. RESULTS: During 15 months, 898 visitors downloaded a referral letter. Of these, 93 (10%) men tested and 96% (90 of 93) obtained their test results online. Through the Web site we found a significantly higher percentage of men who needed treatment for syphilis compared with the STI clinic (50% online vs. 24% STI clinic, P <0.01). Of the Online users who tested positive 33% (3 of 10) had never visited the STI clinic before. In the bannered period there was a monthly average of 15 testers compared with 3 per month in the nonbannered period. CONCLUSION: Online-mediated testing for syphilis is feasible and was more successful in detecting men who have sex with men with an early or late syphilis infection than standard procedures. However, longer promotion periods are needed to generate more usage of the online service.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the feasibility and efficacy of an online-mediated syphilis screening among men who have sex with men. METHODS: We developed a Web site that offered information about syphilis and motivated users to download a referral letter with which they could test for syphilis in a nonclinical setting. A week after the blood test, participants could retrieve their results online. To assess the feasibility and efficacy of the Web site we followed the users through the online procedure and compared the percentage of syphilis infectedmen detected online with those diagnosed at the local sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic, during the same time frame. The trial was divided into an initial period of online advertising (4 months) and no advertising (11 months) to examine how advertisements affect usage. RESULTS: During 15 months, 898 visitors downloaded a referral letter. Of these, 93 (10%) men tested and 96% (90 of 93) obtained their test results online. Through the Web site we found a significantly higher percentage of men who needed treatment for syphilis compared with the STI clinic (50% online vs. 24% STI clinic, P <0.01). Of the Online users who tested positive 33% (3 of 10) had never visited the STI clinic before. In the bannered period there was a monthly average of 15 testers compared with 3 per month in the nonbannered period. CONCLUSION: Online-mediated testing for syphilis is feasible and was more successful in detecting men who have sex with men with an early or late syphilis infection than standard procedures. However, longer promotion periods are needed to generate more usage of the online service.
Authors: Wiley D Jenkins; Rob Weis; Paula Campbell; Mathilda Barnes; Perry Barnes; Charlotte Gaydos Journal: Sex Transm Infect Date: 2012-03-07 Impact factor: 3.519
Authors: Travis Salway Hottes; Janine Farrell; Mark Bondyra; Devon Haag; Jean Shoveller; Mark Gilbert Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2012-03-06 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Rebecca Guy; Carol El-Hayek; Christopher K Fairley; Handan Wand; Andrew Carr; Anna McNulty; Jenny Hoy; Christopher Bourne; John McAllister; B K Tee; David Baker; Norman Roth; Mark Stoove; Marcus Chen Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-08-23 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Nynke F B Dokkum; Rik H Koekenbier; Ingrid V F van den Broek; Jan E A M van Bergen; Elfi E H G Brouwers; Johannes S A Fennema; Hannelore M Götz; Christian J P A Hoebe; Lydia L Pars; Sander M van Ravesteijn; Eline L M Op de Coul Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2012-03-09 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Joshun Dulai; Travis Salway; Kimberly Thomson; Devon Haag; Nathan Lachowsky; Daniel Grace; Joshua Edward; Troy Grennan; Terry Trussler; Mark Gilbert Journal: Can J Public Health Date: 2020-06-16
Authors: Mark Gilbert; Travis Salway Hottes; Thomas Kerr; Darlene Taylor; Christopher K Fairley; Richard Lester; Tom Wong; Terry Trussler; Rick Marchand; Jean Shoveller; Gina Ogilvie Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2013-11-14 Impact factor: 5.428