Improving Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Results Notification and Partner Services

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Status: Completed

Conditions: Sexually Transmitted Infections

Treatments: Other: Text message when test results are ready; Other: Call when test results are ready; Other: Call and text message when test results are ready

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01938053

K12HD051953 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

K12HD051953 Reed

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary goal of this project is to improve the process for contacting patients that test positive for a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the emergency department by using text messaging. We believe patients that are contacted by both a phone call and a text message will be reached more often and they will be reached sooner than those that only receive a phone call or only a text message. In addition, patients will be given reminder cards at the time of testing to remind them that they will be contacted within 7 days if they test positive. Half of the reminder cards will have a number to call for test results. We believe patients that receive a card with a number are more likely to be contacted within 7 days.

Full description

Aim 1: To improve the results notification system among all female adolescents who test positive for STIs in the ED using mobile phone texting technology.

Hypothesis 1: We will increase our contact rate for STI positive adolescents in the ED from 65-82%.

Hypothesis 2: We will decrease the time interval between testing and appropriate STI treatment by the ED.

Hypothesis 3: We will decrease the recidivism rates for STI positive patients diagnosed in the ED.

Aim 2: To explore qualitatively the barriers to and preferences for partner notification and treatment among 14-21 year-old females and males being tested for STIs in the ED.

Aim 3: To determine baseline rates of partner notification and preferences around partner notification among STI-positive females in the ED, and to explore the feasibility of ED personnel notifying their sexual partners.

Enrollment: 609 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 14 to 21 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 14 to 21 years old
• Seen in the emergency department at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
• Test positive for an STI

Exclusion criteria

• Seen for a psychiatric evaluation
• Seen for sexual assault or abuse

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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609 participants in 2 patient groups

Reminder card with no number

Other group

Description:

Patients receive a card to remind them of the time frame for results but no number is listed.

Treatment:

Other: Call when test results are ready

Other: Text message when test results are ready

Other: Call and text message when test results are ready

Card with number

Other group

Description:

Patients receive a card to remind them of the time frame for results but and a number to call for results is listed

Treatment:

Other: Call when test results are ready

Other: Text message when test results are ready

Other: Call and text message when test results are ready