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Do men who have sex with men recognise syphilis symptoms? A syphilis awareness campaign in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
  1. Silvia Achia Nieuwenburg1,2,
  2. Arjan van Bijnen3,
  3. Koenraad Vermey3,
  4. Arjen Stam1,4,
  5. Wim Zuilhof3,
  6. Elske Hoornenborg1,2,
  7. Maarten Franciscus Schim van der Loeff1,2,5,
  8. Henry John Christiaan de Vries1,2,6
  1. 1Department of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  2. 2Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  3. 3Soa Aids Nederland, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  4. 4Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection and Prevention, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  5. 5Department of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  6. 6Department of Dermatology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  1. Correspondence to Silvia Achia Nieuwenburg, GGD Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; s.a.nieuwenburg{at}amsterdamumc.nl

Abstract

Introduction Syphilis incidence is rising among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). To improve early health-seeking behaviour, we developed an online syphilis symptom score tool for GBMSM to self-identify a higher likelihood of infectious syphilis and promoted its use via an online and offline awareness campaign.

Methods From October 2018 through September 2019, a dedicated website on syphilis including the online symptom score tool was promoted. The reach of the campaign was measured by website metrics and the completion of the self-assessment tool. The impact of the campaign was assessed by comparing the monthly number of syphilis serology tests and the percentages of infectious syphilis diagnoses at the Centre for Sexual Health (CSH) in Amsterdam between three periods: 12 months preceding, 12 months during and 6 months after the campaign.

Results During the campaign, 20 341 visitors viewed the website. A total of 13 499 (66.4%) visitors started the self-assessment algorithm, and 11 626 (86.1%) completed it. Prior to the campaign, the mean number of syphilis tests per month was 1650 compared with 1806 per month during the campaign (p=0.02). In the 6 months after the campaign, the mean number of tests per month was 1798 (compared with the period of the campaign, p=0.94). Prior to the campaign, the percentage of infectious syphilis diagnoses was 2.5% compared with 3.0% during the campaign (p=0.009). The percentage of infectious syphilis diagnoses in the 6 months after the campaign was 2.2% (p<0.0001 compared with the period of the campaign, and p=0.045, compared with the period prior to the campaign).

Conclusions Although we did not find definite proof of a (sustained) effect, syphilis symptoms awareness campaigns deserve further evaluation and improvements to help those suspected of syphilis to get tested.

  • HOMOSEXUALITY
  • SYPHILIS
  • HEALTH PROMOTION

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Footnotes

  • Handling editor Jamie Scott Frankis

  • X @henryjdevries

  • Contributors SAN, HJCdV and MSvdL conceptualised the study. SAN and MSvdL contributed to the analysis and interpretation of the analyses. SAN drafted the manuscript. All authors critically revised the manuscript and approved the final version for publication.

  • Funding Public Health Service Amsterdam

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.