Caryn Robertson1, Amanda Thomas2, Atsuko Koyama3, Lauren Middlebrooks4, Swaminathan Kandaswamy2, Evan Orenstein5, Holly Gooding6. 1. Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia. Electronic address: crobe30@emory.edu. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. 3. Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Child Health, University of Arizona, College of Medicine Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona. 4. Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia. 5. Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia; Division of Hospitalist Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. 6. Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia; Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are disproportionally prevalent in adolescents, and adolescents often present to the pediatric emergency department (PED) for STI care. Prior studies have found low rates of sexual history documentation and STI testing in the PED. However, these studies have had limited sample sizes because of the burden of manual chart review. We aimed to estimate the rate of sexual history documentation and identify factors associated with STI testing in a large cohort of adolescents using natural language processing (NLP). METHODS: We applied a validated NLP algorithm to all adolescent visits over a three-year period to the PED at a single large children's health care organization with a chief complaint potentially related to an STI. We utilized NLP to determine the prevalence of sexual history documentation in these patients. We applied logistic regression models to determine associations between sexual history documentation, patient demographic factors, and STI testing. RESULTS: Of the 1,987 patient encounters included, only 56% had a sexual history documented, and only 40% of all patients were tested for STIs. Patients were more likely to have a sexual history documented and to be tested for STIs if they were of non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity, were >15 years of age, and had nonprivate insurance. Patients with a sexual history documented were seven times more likely to have STI testing ordered. Of patients tested (n = 728), 25% were positive for an STI. CONCLUSIONS: Despite presenting to the PED with symptoms potentially related to an STI, many adolescents are not receiving recommended sexual health care. Rates of sexual history documentation and STI testing varied by demographic factors including race, age, and insurance status. Utilizing NLP technology allowed us to examine a larger sample size than previously documented in the adolescent sexual history and PED literature. This study highlights critical opportunities to improve sexual health provision and equity of care provided in the PED.
PURPOSE: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are disproportionally prevalent in adolescents, and adolescents often present to the pediatric emergency department (PED) for STI care. Prior studies have found low rates of sexual history documentation and STI testing in the PED. However, these studies have had limited sample sizes because of the burden of manual chart review. We aimed to estimate the rate of sexual history documentation and identify factors associated with STI testing in a large cohort of adolescents using natural language processing (NLP). METHODS: We applied a validated NLP algorithm to all adolescent visits over a three-year period to the PED at a single large children's health care organization with a chief complaint potentially related to an STI. We utilized NLP to determine the prevalence of sexual history documentation in these patients. We applied logistic regression models to determine associations between sexual history documentation, patient demographic factors, and STI testing. RESULTS: Of the 1,987 patient encounters included, only 56% had a sexual history documented, and only 40% of all patients were tested for STIs. Patients were more likely to have a sexual history documented and to be tested for STIs if they were of non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity, were >15 years of age, and had nonprivate insurance. Patients with a sexual history documented were seven times more likely to have STI testing ordered. Of patients tested (n = 728), 25% were positive for an STI. CONCLUSIONS: Despite presenting to the PED with symptoms potentially related to an STI, many adolescents are not receiving recommended sexual health care. Rates of sexual history documentation and STI testing varied by demographic factors including race, age, and insurance status. Utilizing NLP technology allowed us to examine a larger sample size than previously documented in the adolescent sexual history and PED literature. This study highlights critical opportunities to improve sexual health provision and equity of care provided in the PED.
Authors: Lauren S Chernick; Brendan K Wallace; Maxmoore T Potkin; David L Bell; Peter S Dayan Journal: Pediatr Emerg Care Date: 2021-11-18 Impact factor: 1.602