Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 Dec;95(8):569-574.
doi: 10.1136/sextrans-2019-053992. Epub 2019 Jun 7.

Does internet-accessed STI (e-STI) testing increase testing uptake for chlamydia and other STIs among a young population who have never tested? Secondary analyses of data from a randomised controlled trial

Emma Wilson  1 , Clémence Leyrat  2 , Paula Baraitser  3   4 , Caroline Free  5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Does internet-accessed STI (e-STI) testing increase testing uptake for chlamydia and other STIs among a young population who have never tested? Secondary analyses of data from a randomised controlled trial

Emma Wilson et al. Sex Transm Infect. 2019 Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of an internet-accessed STI (e-STI) testing and results service on testing uptake among young adults (16-30 years) who have never tested for STIs in London, England.

Methods: We conducted secondary analyses on data from a randomised controlled trial. In the trial, participants were randomly allocated to receive a text message with the web link of an e-STI testing and results service (intervention group) or a text message with the link of a website listing the locations, contact details and websites of seven local sexual health clinics (control group). We analysed a subsample of 528 trial participants who reported never testing for STIs at baseline. Outcomes were self-reported STI testing at 6 weeks, verified by patient record checks, and time from randomisation to completion of an STI test.

Results: Uptake of STI testing among 'never testers' almost doubled. At 6 weeks, 45.3% of the intervention completed at least one test (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV), compared with 24.1% of the control (relative risk [RR] 1.88, 95% CI 1.47 to 2.40, p<0.001). For chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing combined, uptake was 44.3% in the intervention versus 24.1% in controls (RR 1.84, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.36, p<0.001). The intervention reduced time to any STI test (restricted mean survival time: 29.0 days vs 36.3 days, p<0.001) at a time horizon of 42 days. CONCLUSIONS : e-STI testing increased uptake of STI testing and reduced time to test among a young population of 'never testers' recruited in community settings. Although encouraging, questions remain on how best to manage the additional demand generated by e-STI testing in a challenging funding environment. Larger studies are required to assess the effects later in the cascade of care, including STI diagnoses and cases treated.

Keywords: diagnosis; programme evaluation; service delivery; testing.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: EW reports receiving a PhD studentship from Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity via SH:24 (a not-for-profit community interest company). PB report grants from Guy’s and St Thomas’ charity via SH:24 (a not-for-profit community interest company) during the conduct of the study. CF reports receiving funding for her time from Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity paid via SH:24 (a not-for-profit community interest company). PB is a director of SH:24 (a not-for-profit community interest company).

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effect of the intervention on STI testing uptake by subgroup.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Public Health England Sexually transmitted infections and screening for Chlamydia in England, 2017. Available: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/sexually-transmitted-infections... [Accessed 03 Jan 2018].
    1. Deblonde J, De Koker P, Hamers FF, et al. . Barriers to HIV testing in Europe: a systematic review. Eur J Public Health 2010;20:422–32. 10.1093/eurpub/ckp231 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Oliver de Visser R, O'Neill N. Identifying and understanding barriers to sexually transmissible infection testing among young people. Sex Health 2013;10:553–8. 10.1071/SH13034 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Minichiello V, Rahman S, Dune T, et al. . E-health: potential benefits and challenges in providing and accessing sexual health services. BMC Public Health 2013;13 10.1186/1471-2458-13-790 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Hottes TS, Farrell J, Bondyra M, et al. . Internet-based HIV and sexually transmitted infection testing in British Columbia, Canada: opinions and expectations of prospective clients. J Med Internet Res 2012;14:e41 10.2196/jmir.1948 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types