Factors associated with consenting to receive an automated email summary following a sexual health clinic visit

Abstract

Background Electronic health records allow for inexpensive communication with patients. In March 2021, the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) implemented an automated email summary (“Sexual Health Automated Visit Email” (SHAVE)) of a client’s visit. This study evaluates the proportion of attendees at a sexual health service who opted in or out of SHAVE. Methods This study was conducted at MSHC in Australia between March 2021 and June 2022. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine the client characteristics associated with consenting to SHAVE. Results There were 18,528 clients (men: 12,700, women: 5,828) included in the final analysis and 55.2% (n = 10,233) consented to receiving SHAVE. Comparing to those who did not have a new STI diagnosis, clients with a new diagnosis of an STI, but not HIV, had lower odds of consenting to receiving SHAVE (chlamydia [aOR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.57-0.72]; gonorrhoea [aOR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.62-0.82]; syphilis [aOR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.59-0.96]). Men had lower odds of consenting when compared to women (MSW [aOR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.71-0.84] and MSM [aOR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.62-0.75]). Comparing to those born in Australia or Oceania, clients born in Europe had lower odds of consenting (aOR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.70-0.94) , whilst those born in Latin America or Caribbean had higher odds of consenting (aOR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.04-1.51). Conclusion Email summaries may serve as a valuable strategy to improve health communication and record keeping for clients. Understanding the client characteristics associated with consenting SHAVE will allow for the implementation of strategies to better communicate with clients.

Validation of self-reported human papillomavirus vaccination in young adult men who have sex with men

“…Accurately reporting HPV vaccination status is important for clinical decisions and management and for monitoring vaccination coverage to evaluate the impact of vaccination programs. In March 2021, MSHC introduced a free service to clients where they can receive an e-mail summary of their clinical visit to the service (including vaccinations they had received on the day of the visit), 29 this additional vaccination record could provide the ability for the clients to report their vaccination status outside MSHC. Novel approaches such as digital vaccine passports may be useful for individuals to track their immunization records.…”