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A qualitative study of patients' use of expedited partner therapy
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

A qualitative study of patients' use of expedited partner therapy

Elizabeth Temkin, Ann C Klassen, Kristin Mmari and Duff G Gillespie
Sexually transmitted diseases, v 38(7), pp 651-656
Jul 2011
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/OLQ.0b013e31820cb206
PMID: 21301384
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://doi.org/10.1097/olq.0b013e31820cb206View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Maybe Open Access (Publisher Bronze),  Open

Abstract

Humans Chlamydia Infections - diagnosis Male Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial - drug therapy Gonorrhea - drug therapy Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial - diagnosis Contact Tracing Young Adult Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use Baltimore Patient Acceptance of Health Care Chlamydia Infections - prevention & control Chlamydia Infections - drug therapy Treatment Refusal Adult Female Gonorrhea - diagnosis Interviews as Topic Gonorrhea - prevention & control Qualitative Research Sexual Partners Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial - prevention & control
In randomized controlled trials of expedited partner therapy (EPT), among patients in the EPT arm, the proportion of partners believed to have taken the medication ranged from 56% to 85%. Little is known about the content of successful and unsuccessful EPT negotiations between patients and their partners. The aim of this study was to describe how patients made decisions about EPT and what they did with the EPT medication packs dispensed to them. We performed a qualitative study at the Baltimore City Health Department sexually transmitted disease clinics, which instituted an EPT pilot program in 2007. In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 patients, 1 week to 3 months after they had accepted EPT to bring to their partners. Taped interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded using ATLAS.ti 6 qualitative software. Codes were further combined into more comprehensive themes that were mapped onto the study's main aim. Participants were innovative about how to get medication to their partners and indicated a deep sense of concern and responsibility for their partners' health. On the other hand, participants reported of being anxious about the interaction and sometimes felt that they lacked the words to talk with their partners about EPT. Some participants used EPT in unexpected ways, such as giving it to people other than their sex partners or taking it themselves. Enhancing the counseling that accompanies EPT may improve patients' success in delivering it to their partners.

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17 citations in Web of Science
16 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

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Web of Science research areas
Infectious Diseases
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