International Journal of STD & AIDS > Volume 20, Number 3 > Pp. 170-175

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Abu-Rajab, K Articles by Hart, G Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Original research articles

Identifying opportunities for sexually transmitted infection prevention: analysis of critical points in the care pathways of patients with gonorrhoea

K Abu-Rajab MRCP DipGUM , A Scoular FRCP MFPH, S Church PhD, J Connell MA, A Winter FRCP PhD and G Hart PhD

MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, 4 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow G12 8RZ, UK

Correspondence to: Dr Kirsty Abu-Rajab, The Sandyford, 2–6 Sandyford Place, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G3 7NB, UK Email: kirsty.abu-rajab{at}nhs.net

We applied the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) to systematically analyse the care pathway of patients diagnosed with gonorrhoea to identify potential intervention opportunities for preventive action. Data were collected on individuals with culture-positive gonococcal infection during 27 February 2003 to 08 January 2004. Qualitative data were gathered within individual semi-structured interviews. Two hundred and twenty-three gonorrhoea patient episodes were evaluated. The median interval between presentation and treatment was significantly longer in females and men having sex with men (MSM), compared with heterosexual men (P = 0.002). Females were significantly more likely to be in regular relationships at the timepoint of perceived infection acquisition than heterosexuals or MSM (P < 0.0001). Four major themes emerged from the interviews: life-stage and infection risk, determinants of risk perception around sexual encounters, attitudes to preventing re-infection and condom use. These informed three potential ‘critical control points’: health-related attitudes/behaviours preceding infection; access to appropriate care and optimizing health promotion to prevent further infection.

Key Words: sexually transmitted diseases • gonorrhoea • clinical pathway • prevention • qualitative

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?