Carrie_testing_STI_2013.pdf (606.82 kB)
Testing for sexually transmitted infections among students: a discrete choice experiment of service preferences
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 17:59 authored by Carrie LlewellynCarrie Llewellyn, Chloe Sakal, Mylene Lagarde, Alex Pollard, Alec H MinersObjectives To assess preferences among students for sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing services, with a view to establishing strength of preference for different service attributes. Design Online discrete choice experiment (DCE) questionnaire. Setting South East of England. Participants A convenience sample of 233 students from two universities. Outcomes Adjusted ORs in relation to service characteristics. Results The study yielded 233 responses. Respondents’ ages ranged from 16 to 34 years with a mean age of 22 years. Among this sample, the respondents demonstrated strong preferences for a testing service which provided tests for all STIs including syphilis, herpes and HIV (OR 4.1; 95% CI 3.36 to 4.90) and centres staffed by a doctor or nurse with specialist knowledge of STIs (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.78 to 2.37). Receiving all test results, whether positive or negative, was also significantly preferable to not being notified when tests were all negative (‘no news is good news’; OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.16 to 1.5). The length of time waiting for an appointment and the method by which results are received were not significant service characteristics in terms of preferences. Patient level characteristics such as age, sex and previous testing experience did not predict the likelihood of testing. Conclusions This study demonstrates that of the examined attributes, university students expressed the strongest preference for a comprehensive testing service. The next strongest preferences were for being tested by specialist STI staff and receiving negative as well as positive test results. However, it remains unclear how strong these preferences are in relation to characteristics which were not part of the study design and whether or not they are cost-effective.
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Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
BMJ OpenISSN
2044-6055Publisher
BMJ Publishing GroupExternal DOI
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10Volume
3Page range
1-7Department affiliated with
- Primary Care and Public Health Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2014-07-30First Open Access (FOA) Date
2014-07-30First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2014-07-30Usage metrics
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