Extrait

Background and study aims Increasing numbers of patients are diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in their GP surgery. This study is concerned with finding out the best way to enable treatment for the sexual partners of individuals diagnosed with STIs in their GP practice. This is called "partner notification". Treatment of partners is important for two reasons - to protect the original patient from reinfection, and to prevent the further spread of infection by infected partner(s). We will compare three different approaches to partner treatment: patient referral, contract referral and provider referral. Patient referral is where patients are simply given information and asked to tell their partner about the problem and the need to be treated. Contract referral is where, in addition to patient referral, patients will be asked to agree to a specialist health adviser (contact tracing expert) to inform their partner(s) if this has not been done after a period of time (say, a week). Provider referral is where, in addition to patient referral, patients will be offered the option of a specialist health adviser contacting their partner(s) at the time of diagnosis. Who can participate? Patients over the age of 16 diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections at participating GP practices What does the study involve? Participating GP practices are randomly allocated into three groups, and trained to manage all their patients according to one of the above approaches. We measure how well these three approaches to partner notification work by comparing how many partners get treated. We also measure how many of the original patients are still infected in each group, as this is also a good measure of partner notification. We also compare the cost effectiveness of the three approaches. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? Not provided at time of registration Where is the study run from? Brighton and Sussex Medical School (UK) When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? May 2010 to April 2013 Who is funding the study? Health Technology Assessment (UK) Who is the main contact? Prof. Jackie Cassell [email protected]

Critère d'inclusion

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Liens

• ictrp
• isrctn