TY - JOUR
T1 - Fully integrated e-services for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections
T2 - Results of a 4-county study in California
AU - Spielberg, Freya
AU - Levy, Vivian
AU - Lensing, Shelly
AU - Chattopadhyay, Ishita
AU - Venkatasubramanian, Lalitha
AU - Acevedo, Nincoshka
AU - Wolff, Peter
AU - Callabresi, Debra
AU - Philip, Susan
AU - Lopez, Teresa P.
AU - Padian, Nancy
AU - Blake, Diane R.
AU - Gaydos, Charlotte A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2013 American Public Health Association.
PY - 2014/12/1
Y1 - 2014/12/1
N2 - Objectives. We examined the acceptability, feasibility, and cost of a fully integrated online system (eSTI) for sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, treatment, and linkage to care with 4 Northern California health departments.Methods. In April 2012, we implemented the eSTI system, which provided education; testing of self-collected vaginal swabs for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis; e-prescriptions; e-partner notification; and data integration with clinic electronic health records. We analyzed feasibility, acceptability, and cost measures.Results. During a 3-month period, 217 women aged 18 to 30 years enrolled; 67% returned the kit. Of these, 92% viewed their results online. STI prevalence was 5.6% (chlamydia and trichomoniasis). All participants with STIs received treatment either the same day at a pharmacy (62%) or within 7 days at a clinic (38%). Among participants completing follow-up surveys, 99% would recommend the online eSTI system to a friend, and 95% preferred it over clinic-based testing within a study.Conclusions. The fully integrated eSTI system has the potential to increase diagnosis and treatment of STIs with higher patient satisfaction at a potentially lower cost.
AB - Objectives. We examined the acceptability, feasibility, and cost of a fully integrated online system (eSTI) for sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, treatment, and linkage to care with 4 Northern California health departments.Methods. In April 2012, we implemented the eSTI system, which provided education; testing of self-collected vaginal swabs for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis; e-prescriptions; e-partner notification; and data integration with clinic electronic health records. We analyzed feasibility, acceptability, and cost measures.Results. During a 3-month period, 217 women aged 18 to 30 years enrolled; 67% returned the kit. Of these, 92% viewed their results online. STI prevalence was 5.6% (chlamydia and trichomoniasis). All participants with STIs received treatment either the same day at a pharmacy (62%) or within 7 days at a clinic (38%). Among participants completing follow-up surveys, 99% would recommend the online eSTI system to a friend, and 95% preferred it over clinic-based testing within a study.Conclusions. The fully integrated eSTI system has the potential to increase diagnosis and treatment of STIs with higher patient satisfaction at a potentially lower cost.
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U2 - 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302302
DO - 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302302
M3 - Review article
C2 - 25320878
AN - SCOPUS:84911139136
SN - 0090-0036
VL - 104
SP - 2313
EP - 2320
JO - American journal of public health
JF - American journal of public health
IS - 12
ER -