A Rutgers-led study of nearly 1,350 patients receiving care for HIV at nine different US clinics has identified steps healthcare teams can take to identify and treat more sexually transmitted infections (STIs):
- Audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) sexual histories at every routine clinic visit
- Patient self-collection of genital, throat and rectal specimens for gonorrhea and chlamydia
- Clinical staff training (four virtual sessions for all team members)
- A dozen sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) welcoming signage to the clinic environment
The 1,348 participants in the study, published in AIDS Patient Care and STDs, completed 2,203 tablet-based ACASI sexual history surveys leading to 531 participants receiving STI testing related to reported risk behaviors. Those tests identified 255 cases of gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis, most of which (86 percent) would have otherwise gone undetected for lack of symptoms since most clinics test only after annual screenings or when patients are symptomatic. To read the full story.