The internet, a simple and convenient tool in Chlamydia trachomatis screening of young people

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate a new C. trachomatis screening method based on a home sampling strategy and using the internet as a facility for the participants to obtain their test results. A population based screening study was designed in primary care setting in Umeå, Sweden. It included all males aged 22 years (n=1074), living in Umeå, a city with 100 000 inhabitants. The participation rate was 38.5%. In the study group, 1.1% were infected with C. trachomatis. Participants obtained their results on the internet and three quarters of males infected with C. trachomatis sought medical treatment independently. The number of times the internet was visited exceeded the number of urine samples tested. The internet C. trachomatis screening strategy achieved the highest male participation rate yet published, and also reached young males outside the high risk groups.

Computerized dietary assessments compare well with interviewer administered diet histories for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the primary healthcare setting

“…Of the 110 patients contacted, less than 40% were recruited to the study. In keeping with similar studies, however (21,25), once committed to the study, withdrawal rates were relatively low with 78% of all patients completing this study. It is assumed that as the burden of a study increases, the completion rate of a study decreases and this may reflect the personal circumstances and level of motivation of the participants.…”

“…We believe that the differences in the nutrient data between week zero and week two may be the result of patients reading the computer screen more accurately and becoming more aware of the expectations of the website by their subsequent visits (learning effect) (21,22). This can be seen by the changes in the variability (SD) of the nutrient data between week zero and week two as no dietary advice had been provided at these timepoints.…”

Conducting Internet-Based HIV/STD Prevention Survey Research: Considerations in Design and Evaluation

“…1. While research designs unique to the Internet have yet to emerge, investigators have shown that it is feasible to conduct surveys for HIV/STD prevention in surveillance (Novak, Edman, Jonsson, & Karlsson, 2003), randomized controlled trials Bull et al, 2004), and quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method studies online Ross, 2005). Further, by building to the strengths of the Internet, researchers are advancing HIV prevention survey research in some interesting ways (as will be outlined below).…”

Epidemiological, social, diagnostic and economic evaluation of population screening for genital chlamydial infection

“…Only recent large studies of active screening using home-collected specimens have included men. [12][13][14][15]62,123,124 Findings from both qualitative interviews and quantitative questionnaires in the ClaSS project suggest that men and women reacted differently to being invited to take part in chlamydia screening, being tested and receiving a positive diagnosis. Response rates were lower among men than women in this study and in other studies.…”