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• Chlamydia testing: where are we now? Recruiting high risk women to a pilot STI screening trial.
  Tia Hunjan
  Published on: 13 May 2016

• Published on: 13 May 2016

  Chlamydia testing: where are we now? Recruiting high risk women to a pilot STI screening trial.

  • Tia Hunjan, Academic Foundation Year 2 Doctor
  • Other Contributors:
    • Sarah Kerry, Rebecca Normansell, Philip Hay, Tariq Sadiq, Tim Planche and Pippa Oakeshott

  In their topical editorial, Jain and Ison state that "testing (for chlamydia) is a crucial part of any effective control strategy"1. In January 2013 we conducted a pilot study of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoea testing in female students at Lambeth Further Education College, London to assess recruitment to a possible POPI (prevention of pelvic infection) 2 screening trial.2

  Two female general pr...

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  In their topical editorial, Jain and Ison state that "testing (for chlamydia) is a crucial part of any effective control strategy"1. In January 2013 we conducted a pilot study of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoea testing in female students at Lambeth Further Education College, London to assess recruitment to a possible POPI (prevention of pelvic infection) 2 screening trial.2

  Two female general practitioners approached consecutive female students in the common room and asked them to help with a women's health study. We explained that only women aged 16-27 who were sexually experienced were eligible. Those who consented completed a questionnaire and provided a self-taken vaginal swab. We explained that as samples might not be tested for six months, it was participants' responsibility to get tested independently if they were at risk of STIs. Subjects were given a small honorarium (?5 and a lollipop) when they returned the samples.

  Of 40 women approached, eight were aged >27 and seven refused: response rate 78% (25/32). Responders were broadly similar to non- responders in the proportion of black ethnicity (56%, 14/25 versus 86%, 6/7) but were younger (mean (sd) 19.3 (2.7) years versus 22.9 (3.5) years, p<0.01)). Unlike our difficulties in the POPI trial2, we recruited our target of 25 women in 90 minutes and had to turn away potential participants as we had run out of packs. Three women were later excluded as their questionnaire responses showed they had never had sex. Of the 22 sexually active women, 41% reported two or more sexual partners in the previous year and 45% were smokers. Mean age of sexual debut was 15.5 years (range 13 to 19). Four women reported a history of STI.

  Within a week, samples were randomly allocated to immediate or deferred testing. Two of 16 participants in the immediate testing group were positive - one for chlamydia and one for gonorrhoea. They were easily contactable by mobile phone and email and referred for treatment. We will return to the college in six months to request a further vaginal swab and questionnaire from the 22 eligible participants. Although we need to ensure only those who are sexually experienced are recruited, our study suggests small financial incentives may be useful.

  Ethics review: Bromley REC: 12/LO/0855

  Acknowledgements: We thank students and staff at Lambeth College.

  References

  1. Jain A, Ison CA. Chlamydia point-of-care testing: where are we now? Sex Transm Infect 2013;89(2)88-89.

  2. Oakeshott P, Kerry S, Aghaizu A et al. Randomized control trial of screening for Chlamydia trachomatis to prevent pelvic inflammatory disease: the POPI (prevention of pelvic infection) trial. BMJ. 2010;340:c1642

  Conflict of Interest:

  None declared

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  Conflict of Interest:
  None declared.

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