A Web—Based Respondent Driven Sampling Pilot Targeting Young People at Risk for Chlamydia Trachomatis in Social and Sexual Networks with Testing: A Use Evaluation

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Kevin Theunissen¹  Christian Hoebe¹  Gerjo Kok⁶  Rik Crutzen⁵  Chakib Kara-Zaïtri³  Nanne de Vries⁵  Jan van Bergen⁴  Robert Hamilton²  Marianne van der Sande⁴  Nicole Dukers-Muijrers¹ 

[1] Department of Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, South Limburg Public Health Services, 6160 HA, Geleen, The Netherlands; E-Mail:;In-Fact, Bradford BD17 7DB, UK; E-Mail:;Faculty of Engineering and Informatics. University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK; E-Mail:;Centre for Infectious Disease Control, RIVM National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven 3720 BA, The Netherlands; E-Mails:;Department of Health Promotion, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC), Maastricht 6202 AZ, The Netherlands; E-Mails:;Department of Work & Social Psychology, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; E-Mail:

关键词: Chlamydia trachomatis;    web-based respondent driven sampling;    peer-referral;    social networks;    sexual networks;    partner notification;    home-based test kits;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph120809889

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Background: With the aim of targeting high-risk hidden heterosexual young people for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) testing, an innovative web-based screening strategy using Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) and home-based CT testing, was developed, piloted and evaluated. Methods: Two STI clinic nurses encouraged 37 CT positive heterosexual young people (aged 16–25 years), called index clients, to recruit peers from their social and sexual networks using the web-based screening strategy. Eligible peers (young, living in the study area) could request a home-based CT test and recruit other peers. Results: Twelve (40%) index clients recruited 35 peers. Two of these peers recruited other peers (n = 7). In total, 35 recruited peers were eligible for participation; ten of them (29%) requested a test and eight tested. Seven tested for the first time and one (13%) was positive. Most peers were female friends (80%). Nurses were positive about using the strategy. Conclusions: The screening strategy is feasible for targeting the hidden social network. However, uptake among men and recruitment of sex-partners is low and RDS stopped early. Future studies are needed to explore the sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and impact of strategies that target people at risk who are not effectively reached by regular health care.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.