BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to ascertain the acceptability to at-risk young people of self-collected urine samples as a means of testing for Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia); to determine the effectiveness of drop-off and outreach collection methods as a means of detecting and treating chlamydia; and to determine the rate of positive chlamydia tests in a sample of the target group. METHODS: Participants requested postal testing kits from the project website, the NSW Sexual Health Infoline or at an outreach event and either returned urine samples at selected drop-off locations or directly to the researchers during active outreach events. RESULTS: A total of 413 kits were requested - 196 (47.5%) via email, 204 (49.4%) during outreach events and nine (2.2%) via the NSW Sexual Health Infoline. A total of 195 samples (47.2% of ordered kits) were returned. Participants were less likely to return samples if they had been requested by email (odds ratio = 9.6; 95% confidence interval: 6.0-15.0) or via telephone (odds ratio = 22.0; 95% confidence interval: 2.7-181.0) compared with directly obtaining a kit at an outreach event. The number of specimens positive for chlamydia in the targeted age range was 4, giving a 3.1% positive rate (95% confidence interval: 1.0-8.0). CONCLUSIONS: This study identified that free testing kits and online communication worked well as a means of engaging young people and raising awareness of sexual health. However, the requirement to drop-off urine samples at selected locations was not well accepted.
BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to ascertain the acceptability to at-risk young people of self-collected urine samples as a means of testing for Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia); to determine the effectiveness of drop-off and outreach collection methods as a means of detecting and treating chlamydia; and to determine the rate of positive chlamydia tests in a sample of the target group. METHODS:Participants requested postal testing kits from the project website, the NSW Sexual Health Infoline or at an outreach event and either returned urine samples at selected drop-off locations or directly to the researchers during active outreach events. RESULTS: A total of 413 kits were requested - 196 (47.5%) via email, 204 (49.4%) during outreach events and nine (2.2%) via the NSW Sexual Health Infoline. A total of 195 samples (47.2% of ordered kits) were returned. Participants were less likely to return samples if they had been requested by email (odds ratio = 9.6; 95% confidence interval: 6.0-15.0) or via telephone (odds ratio = 22.0; 95% confidence interval: 2.7-181.0) compared with directly obtaining a kit at an outreach event. The number of specimens positive for chlamydia in the targeted age range was 4, giving a 3.1% positive rate (95% confidence interval: 1.0-8.0). CONCLUSIONS: This study identified that free testing kits and online communication worked well as a means of engaging young people and raising awareness of sexual health. However, the requirement to drop-off urine samples at selected locations was not well accepted.
Authors: Randolph D Hubach; Brian Dodge; Alissa Davis; Andrew D Smith; Gregory D Zimet; Barbara Van Der Pol Journal: Sex Transm Dis Date: 2014-02 Impact factor: 2.830
Authors: Muhammad S Jamil; Jane S Hocking; Heidi M Bauer; Hammad Ali; Handan Wand; Kirsty Smith; Jennifer Walker; Basil Donovan; John M Kaldor; Rebecca J Guy Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2013-03-04 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Belinda Hengel; Muhammad S Jamil; Jacqueline K Mein; Lisa Maher; John M Kaldor; Rebecca J Guy Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2013-11-04 Impact factor: 3.295