AIM: This study applied a theory-based questionnaire to examine the behaviours and beliefs of all practice staff who may be involved in offering chlamydia screens to young people aged 15-25 years old. We aimed to identify potential influencing factors and examine the organisational constraints, which may be amenable to change. BACKGROUND: The National Chlamydia Screening Programme offers opportunistic screening to men and women between 15 and 25 years old who have ever had sexual intercourse and primary care is the second largest source of screens. In England 15.9% of the target group were screened against a target of 17% in 2008. Interventions to improve the frequency of offers have shown effects with volunteer practices. METHODS: A survey of 85 General Practices was completed by 55 doctors, nurses and receptionists. Interviews were conducted with 12 staff from three practices. FINDINGS: Respondents were unable to identify the national screening target. Only half record if a patient is sexually active. Half the sample had some recollection of the frequency of offers they made, with a mean of 4 per month. These were predominantly in consultations concerning sexual health. Perceived social norms are favourable to screening and respondents have strong perceived control over offering screens, including to those under 16 who are sexually active. Attitudes towards screening were positive but disadvantages and barriers related to increased pressure on practice resources for longer consultations and contact tracing. There were no differences in beliefs and practice behaviours between medical and nursing staff. CONCLUSIONS: Future interventions should be targeted at increasing the range of consultations in which offers are made, demonstrating how to make offers without increasing consultation time, providing more complete records of sexual activity, screens and results, and encouraging audit and review within the practice to promote practice wide approaches to increasing opportunistic screening.
AIM: This study applied a theory-based questionnaire to examine the behaviours and beliefs of all practice staff who may be involved in offering chlamydia screens to young people aged 15-25 years old. We aimed to identify potential influencing factors and examine the organisational constraints, which may be amenable to change. BACKGROUND: The National Chlamydia Screening Programme offers opportunistic screening to men and women between 15 and 25 years old who have ever had sexual intercourse and primary care is the second largest source of screens. In England 15.9% of the target group were screened against a target of 17% in 2008. Interventions to improve the frequency of offers have shown effects with volunteer practices. METHODS: A survey of 85 General Practices was completed by 55 doctors, nurses and receptionists. Interviews were conducted with 12 staff from three practices. FINDINGS: Respondents were unable to identify the national screening target. Only half record if a patient is sexually active. Half the sample had some recollection of the frequency of offers they made, with a mean of 4 per month. These were predominantly in consultations concerning sexual health. Perceived social norms are favourable to screening and respondents have strong perceived control over offering screens, including to those under 16 who are sexually active. Attitudes towards screening were positive but disadvantages and barriers related to increased pressure on practice resources for longer consultations and contact tracing. There were no differences in beliefs and practice behaviours between medical and nursing staff. CONCLUSIONS: Future interventions should be targeted at increasing the range of consultations in which offers are made, demonstrating how to make offers without increasing consultation time, providing more complete records of sexual activity, screens and results, and encouraging audit and review within the practice to promote practice wide approaches to increasing opportunistic screening.
Authors: Cliodna A M McNulty; Angela H Hogan; Ellie J Ricketts; Louise Wallace; Isabel Oliver; Rona Campbell; Sebastian Kalwij; Elaine O'Connell; Andre Charlett Journal: Sex Transm Infect Date: 2013-09-04 Impact factor: 3.519
Authors: Anna Yeung; Meredith Temple-Smith; Simone Spark; Rebecca Guy; Christopher K Fairley; Matthew Law; Anna Wood; Kirsty Smith; Basil Donovan; John Kaldor; Jane Gunn; Marie Pirotta; Rob Carter; Jane Hocking Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2014-11-07 Impact factor: 3.090
Authors: R Allison; D M Lecky; K Town; C Rugman; E J Ricketts; N Ockendon-Powell; K A Folkard; J K Dunbar; C A M McNulty Journal: BMC Fam Pract Date: 2017-03-21 Impact factor: 2.497
Authors: Rebecca Lorch; Jane Hocking; Meredith Temple-Smith; Matthew Law; Anna Yeung; Anna Wood; Alaina Vaisey; Basil Donovan; Christopher K Fairley; John Kaldor; Rebecca Guy Journal: BMC Fam Pract Date: 2013-11-13 Impact factor: 2.497
Authors: Lorraine K McDonagh; John M Saunders; Jackie Cassell; Tyrone Curtis; Hamad Bastaki; Thomas Hartney; Greta Rait Journal: Implement Sci Date: 2018-10-22 Impact factor: 7.327