Barriers to and facilitators of partner notification for chlamydia trachomatis among health care professionals

BMC Health Services Research

Nicole HTM Dukers-Muijrers⁴  Gerjo Kok¹  Rik Crutzen²  Christian JPA Hoebe⁴  Pim Schipper³  Kevin ATM Theunissen³ 

[1] Department of Work & Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands;Department of Health Promotion, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, 6202 AZ, The Netherlands;Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, South Limburg Public Health Services, Geleen, 6160 HA, The Netherlands;Department of Medical Microbiology Maastricht Infection Centre (MINC), School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, 6202 AZ, The Netherlands

关键词: Public health;    Facilitators;    Barriers;    Chlamydia trachomatis;    Partner notification;   

Others  :  1089942
DOI  :  10.1186/s12913-014-0647-5

 received in 2014-01-16, accepted in 2014-12-11,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Partner notification (PN) is an essential case-finding tool in the management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Yet, data on the effectiveness and factors impacting implementation of PN in the Netherlands are lacking. With the aim of further exploring and improving the PN process, the current study assessed perceived barriers and facilitators among health care professionals in the STI clinical setting. In particular, we explored the management of PN in young heterosexual patients diagnosed with Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct).

Methods

We conducted semi-structured interviews among 22 health care professionals (response rate 52%) from 5 of the 8 national STI clinics in the Netherlands. We carried out qualitative content analysis using a framework approach. All participants were nurses, aged mid 20’s to late 50’s, and all but one were female.

Results

All health care professionals felt comfortable discussing PN. Other perceived facilitators for PN included: time, one-on-one consultations, interviewing skills (i.e. Motivational Interviewing) and a proactive helping style. Important barriers were identified as: sub-optimal guidelines, inaccurate sexual history, a lack of feedback regarding the motivational strategies that were used, and the lack of feedback regarding overall PN effectiveness. The health care professionals placed an emphasis on the care and treatment of the individual index patient rather than on discussion of PN, or on motivating and helping patients to engage in PN.

Conclusions

Health care professionals identified several barriers that need to be overcome, and facilitators which need to be maintained. Future efforts should concentrate on introducing PN protocols, providing feedback on both the effectiveness of strategies used by health care professionals, and on the PN process as a whole, and educating health care professionals about Motivational Interviewing strategies. Moreover, the possible implementation of an Internet-based PN system should be explored.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Theunissen et al.; licensee BioMed Central.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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