Use of computerized medical records to determine the feasibility of testing for chlamydia without patients seeing a practitioner

Int J STD AIDS. 2010 Nov;21(11):755-7. doi: 10.1258/ijsa.2010.010220.

Abstract

The proportion of clinically important diagnoses in a low-risk, asymptomatic population who use a computer-assisted self-interview (CASI) to assess risk was needed to determine optimal health service delivery. Medical records were retrospectively analysed between July 2008 and June 2009 for risk characteristics and diagnoses. A total of 7733 new patients completed a CASI, of whom 1060 were asymptomatic heterosexuals. From this low-risk group, 26 diagnoses were made on the day of presentation, including 22 cases of genital warts (2.08% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22-2.93]), three cases of genital herpes (0.28% [95% CI 0.055-0.82]) and one case of unintended pregnancy (0.094% [95% CI 0.0061-0.52]). Additionally, there were 54 cases of chlamydia detected (5.09% [95% CI 3.77-6.42]). As chlamydia is effectively diagnosed and managed from self-collected samples, patient review is not always required. This study provides evidence for an express testing service for chlamydia to streamline the screening of low-risk, asymptomatic heterosexual patients as identified by CASI without the need to for a traditional face-to-face consultation.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Chlamydia Infections / diagnosis*
  • Chlamydia Infections / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized*
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires