Uptake Of Chlamydia Screening Research Articles

\u2018Test n Treat (TnT)\u2019: a cluster-randomised feasibility trial of frequent, rapid-testing and same-day, on-site treatment to reduce rates of chlamydia in high-risk further education college students: statistical analysis plan

BackgroundThere are high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in ethnically diverse, sexually active students aged 16–24 years attending London further education (FE) colleges. However, uptake of chlamydia screening remains low. The TnT study aims to assess the feasibility of conducting a future trial in FE colleges to investigate if frequent, rapid, on-site testing and treatment (TnT) reduces chlamydia rates. This article presents the statistical analysis plan for the main study publication as approved and signed off by the Trial Management Group prior to the first data extraction for the final report.Methods/designTnT is a cluster-randomised feasibility trial conducted over 7 months with parallel qualitative and economic assessments. Colleges will be randomly allocated into the intervention (TnT) or the control group (no TnT). Six FE colleges in London will be included. At each college for 2 days, 80 consecutive sexually active students aged 16–24 years (total 480 students across all six colleges) will be recruited from public areas and asked to provide baseline samples. One and 4 months after recruitment intervention colleges will be visited on two consecutive days by the TnT team where participating students will be texted and invited to come for same-day, on-site, rapid chlamydia testing and, if positive, treatment. Participants in the control colleges will receive ‘thank you’ texts 1 and 4 months after recruitment. Seven months after recruitment, participants from both groups will be invited to complete questionnaires and provide samples for TnT. All samples will be tested, and same-day treatment offered to participants with positive results. Key feasibility outcomes include: recruitment rates, testing and treatment uptake rates (at 1 and 4 months) and follow-up rates (at 7 months).Trial registrationISRCTN 58038795. Registered on 31 August 2016.

Increasing uptake of chlamydia screening in general practice

Chlamydia screening rates remain sub-optimal in the UK, but awareness raising using multi-media, plus training and education for clinicians, can improve uptake. Karen Strivens outlines findings of a pilot study to determine practical solutions in general practice. Chlamydia infection poses a huge challenge to public health and to the NHS, hence current policies to enhance screening in 15–24 year olds, the highest risk group ( Department of Health, 2009 ; National Chlamydia Screening Programme 2012 ; Public Health England, 2014 ). Despite efforts to reduce infection rates through mass media campaigns encouraging routine screening, rates remain sub-optimal and chlamydia infection continues to rise ( NHS Choices, 2010 ; Gobin et al, 2013 ). To address this, a pilot study was undertaken by a large general practice in north west England to improve screening uptake, using a three-pronged approach: raising awareness of chlamydia infection and available screening services via posters and text messages and online; providing practice staff with education and training to encourage uptake of screening in contraceptive and sexual health appointments; and initiating an evening drop-in service. Although the drop-in service did not achieve the anticipated attendance rate, findings highlighted a significant increase in chlamydia screening following the awareness-raising local multi-media campaign and education and training of staff.

Screening and Treating Chlamydia trachomatis Genital Infection to Prevent Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

We critically reviewed randomized controlled trials evaluating chlamydia screening to prevent pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and explored factors affecting interpretation and translation of trial data into public health prevention. Taken together, data from these trials offer evidence that chlamydia screening and treatment is an important and useful intervention to reduce the risk of PID among young women. However, the magnitude of benefit to be expected from screening may have been overestimated based on the earliest trials. It is likely that chlamydia screening programs have contributed to declines in PID incidence through shortening prevalent infections, although the magnitude of their contribution remains unclear. Program factors such as screening coverage as well as natural history factors such as risk of PID after repeat chlamydia infection can be important in determining the impact of chlamydia screening on PID incidence in a population. Uptake of chlamydia screening is currently suboptimal, and expansion of screening among young, sexually active women remains a priority. To reduce transmission and repeat infections, implementation of efficient strategies to treat partners of infected women is also essential. Results of ongoing randomized evaluations of the effect of screening on community-wide chlamydia prevalence and PID will also be valuable.

Community pharmacy and cash reward: a winning combination for chlamydia screening?

ObjectivesTo date, the uptake of chlamydia screening in community pharmacies has been limited. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine if a cash reward, offered to both the...

P75 Do cash incentives increase the uptake of chlamydia testing in pharmacies?

BackgroundChlamydia screening uptake rates in Australian and overseas pharmacies vary widely (11% to 58%).AimTo determine the effect on the uptake of chlamydia screening in community pharmacies when a cash reward...

Missed opportunities for chlamydia screening by community pharmacists

Provision of Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) is an ideal opportunity for offering Chlamydia screening (CS) to sexually active young women. We audited 3 months of CS activity in community pharmacies. This identified low rates of offers and uptake of CS in community pharmacies providing EHC to young women. This highlights the potential for significant improvement in CS uptake among this at-risk group in the pharmacy setting.

Pharmacists could improve uptake of chlamydia home screening kits

The uptake of chlamydia screening in sexually active under 25 year olds has not reached a level at which it will reduce transmission rates. This study aimed to assess the uptake of screening using a home kit offered by pharmacists at the time of supplying emergency hormonal contraception (EHC).