International Journal of STD & AIDS > Volume 17, Number 11 > Pp. 772-775

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Audit report

Clinching the contacts: a tale of two audits before and after the introduction of a contacts' clinic

Bhavin Raval and Rachel Challenor

GUM Department, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, UK; GUM Department, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, UK

Contact tracing outcomes were good (0.8 contacts per case) at the Plymouth genitourinary (GU) medicine clinic when it was a 'walk-in' service. After moving to an appointments-only service, less than 0.5 contacts were seen. From October 2004, we introduced weekly contacts' clinics, which provided early appointments for partners of chlamydia-positive patients. We undertook audits of contact-tracing outcomes before (2004) and after (2005) the introduction of the contacts' clinics. Before, in 2004, 0.46 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36–0.56) contacts per case were seen within four weeks of the initial partner notification interview. After, in 2005, 0.66 (95% CI 0.57–0.75) contacts were seen within four weeks (P=0.005). Partner notification outcomes were significantly associated with follow-up (P<0.001). There was no difference in success whether the follow-up was by re-attendance or by telephone. This simple change in the clinic schedule has allowed the specialty's evidence-based National Outcome Standards to be met.

Key Words: CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS • NATIONAL OUTCOME STANDARDS • AUDIT • GU MEDICINE • PARTNER NOTIFICATION

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