Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29262799›Full record

ArticleBMC family practice2017

Partner notification and partner treatment for chlamydia: attitude and practice of general practitioners in the Netherlands; a landscape analysis.

Ingrid V F van den Broek, Gé A Donker, Karin Hek, Jan E A M van Bergen, Birgit H B van Benthem, Hannelore M Götz

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC family practice, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Ingrid V F van den BroekEpidemiology and Surveillance Unit, Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, RIVM, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. Ingrid.van.den.Broek@rivm.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3096-1761
Gé A DonkerNIVEL Primary Care Database, Sentinel Practices, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Karin HekNIVEL Primary Care database, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Jan E A M van BergenEpidemiology and Surveillance Unit, Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, RIVM, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Birgit H B van BenthemEpidemiology and Surveillance Unit, Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, RIVM, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Hannelore M GötzEpidemiology and Surveillance Unit, Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, RIVM, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.

Funding

Zonmw (Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development) 5220020
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChlamydia prevalence remains high despite scaling-up control efforts. Transmission is not effectively interrupted without partner notification (PN) and (timely) partner treatment (PT). In the Netherlands, the follow-up of partners is not standardized and may depend on GPs' time and priorities. We investigated current practice and attitude of GPs towards PN and PT to determine the potential for Patient-Initiated Partner Treatment, which is legally not supported yet.

methodsMultiple data-sources were combined for a landscape analysis. Quantitative data on (potential) PT were obtained from prescriptions in the national pharmacy register (2004-2014) and electronic patient data from NIVEL-Primary Care Database (PCD) and from STI consultations in a subgroup of sentinel practices therein. Furthermore, we collected information on current practice via two short questionnaires at a national GP conference and obtained insight into GPs' attitudes towards PN/PT in a vignette study among GPs partaking in NIVEL-PCD.

resultsPrescription data showed Azithromycin double dosages in 1-2% of cases in the pharmacy register (37.000 per year); probable chlamydia-specific repeated prescriptions or double dosages of other antibiotics in NIVEL-PCD (115/1078) could not be interpreted as PT for chlamydia with certainty. STI consultation data revealed direct PT in 6/100 cases, via partner prescription or double doses. In the questionnaires the large majority of GPs (>95% of 1411) reported to discuss PN of current and ex-partner(s) with chlamydia patients. Direct PT was indicated as most common method by 4% of 271 GPs overall and by 12% for partners registered in the same practice. Usually, GPs leave further steps to the patients (83%), advising patients to tell partners to get tested (56%) or treated (28%). In the vignette study, 16-20% of 268 GPs indicated willingness to provide direct PT, depending on patient/partner profile, more (24-45%) if patients would have the chance to notify their partner first.

conclusionGPs in the Netherlands already treat some partners of chlamydia cases directly, especially partners registered in the same practice. Follow-up of partner notification and treatment in general practice needs more attention. GPs may be open to implement PIPT more often, provided there are clear guidelines to arrange this legally and practically.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelGeneral PracticeAdultAge FactorsAnti-Bacterial AgentsChlamydia InfectionsContact TracingDirective CounselingDrug PrescriptionsFemaleHumansMaleNetherlandsPractice Patterns, Physicians'RegistriesSex FactorsAnti-Bacterial AgentsChlamydia trachomatisExpedited partner therapyGeneral practicePartner notificationPartner treatmentPatient-initiated partner treatmentSexually transmitted infections

Identifiers

PMID29262799
PMCPMC5738758

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.