ArticleSexually transmitted infections2018
Comparing the characteristics of users of an online service for STI self-sampling with clinic service users: a cross-sectional analysis.
Article in Sexually transmitted infections, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 30 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
30 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Direct Access for Patients to Diagnostic Testing and Results Using eHealth: Systematic Review on eHealth and Diagnostics.Journal of medical Internet research · 2022Pooled it
- Perceptions and Experiences of Internet-Based Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections: Systematic Review and Synthesis of Qualitative Research.Journal of medical Internet research · 2020Pooled it
- Health Equity Analysis of Awareness and Use of GetCheckedOnline, British Columbia's Digital Intervention for Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infection Testing in 5 Urban, Suburban, and Rural Communities: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Sexually transmitted infection testing and key outcomes following implementation of online postal self-sampling into sexual health services in England: a retrospective observational study of routinely collected service-level healthcare data.The Lancet regional health. Europe · 2026Article
- Uptake, positivity, and equity of online postal self-sampling for chlamydia testing in England: a retrospective cohort study.The Lancet regional health. Europe · 2025Article
- Application of the COM-B model to facilitators and barriers to HIV and STI testing among people from Black African and Black Caribbean communities in the UK: a scoping review.Sexually transmitted infections · 2025Article
- An evaluation of an online STI service across London: reviewing uptake, utility and outcomes over a 4-year period.Sexually transmitted infections · 2025Article
- Self-sampling and self-testing for HIV at a commercial and community-based test provider in the Netherlands: user preferences and usability.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Citizen science as an instrument for women's health research.Nature medicine · 2024Article
- Young, deprived women are more at risk of testing positive for Chlamydia trachomatis: Results from a cross-sectional multicentre study in French health examination centres.Public health in practice (Oxford, England) · 2024Article
- Service user experiences of using internet-based testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs): a qualitative study.Sexually transmitted infections · 2024Article
- Differential uptake and effects of digital sexually transmitted and bloodborne infection testing interventions among equity-seeking groups: a scoping review.Sexually transmitted infections · 2023Article
- Understanding the barriers and facilitators to using self-sampling packs for sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses: Thematic analyses for intervention optimization.British journal of health psychology · 2023Article
- Article
- Using the behaviour change wheel approach to optimize self-sampling packs for sexually transmitted infection and blood borne viruses.British journal of health psychology · 2022Article
- Access to, usage and clinic outcomes of, online postal sexually transmitted infection services: a scoping review.Sexually transmitted infections · 2022Review
- Prevalence of hepatitis B immunity and infection in home self-sampling HIV service users.Sexually transmitted infections · 2022Article
- HIV and STI Testing Preferences for Men Who Have Sex with Men in High-Income Countries: A Scoping Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Observational
- Acceptability and usability of HIV self-tests in two European countries: findings from surveys of clients at non-governmental organisations in Lithuania and Italy.BMC infectious diseases · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesOnline services for self-sampling at home could improve access to STI testing; however, little is known about those using this new modality of care. This study describes the characteristics of users of online services and compares them with users of clinic services.
methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of routinely collected data on STI testing activity from online and clinic sexual health services in Lambeth and Southwark between 1January 2016 and 31March 2016. Activity was included for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and syphilis testing for residents of the boroughs aged 16 years and older. Logistic regression models were used to explore potential associations between type of service use with age group, gender, ethnic group, sexual orientation, positivity and Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintiles. We used the same methods to explore potential associations between return of complete samples for testing with age group, gender, ethnic group, sexual orientation and IMD quintiles among online users.
results6456 STI tests were carried out by residents in the boroughs. Of these, 3582 (55.5%) were performed using clinic services and 2874 (44.5%) using the online service. In multivariate analysis, online users were more likely than clinic users to be aged between 20 and 30 years, female, white British, homosexual or bisexual, test negative for chlamydia or gonorrhoea and live in less deprived areas. Of the individuals that ordered a kit from the online service, 72.5% returned sufficient samples. In multivariate analysis, returners were more likely than non-returners to be aged >20 years and white British.
conclusionNearly half (44.5%) of all basic STI testing was done online, although the characteristics of users of clinic and online services differed and positivity rates for those using the online service for testing were lower. Clinics remain an important point of access for some groups.
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