ArticleSexually transmitted infections2019
Choose to test: self-selected testing for sexually transmitted infections within an online service.
Article in Sexually transmitted infections, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Evaluating the Implementation of Online Postal Self-Sampling for Sexually Transmitted Infections in England: Multisite Qualitative Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- An evaluation of an online STI service across London: reviewing uptake, utility and outcomes over a 4-year period.Sexually transmitted infections · 2025Article
- Mapping Digital Public Health Interventions Among Existing Digital Technologies and Internet-Based Interventions to Maintain and Improve Population Health in Practice: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Article
- Access to, usage and clinic outcomes of, online postal sexually transmitted infection services: a scoping review.Sexually transmitted infections · 2022Review
- Users' Opinions of Internet-based Self-sampling Tests for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Sweden.Acta dermato-venereologica · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo describe the outcomes of user-led, choice of test within an online sexual health service.
methodsWe analysed routinely collected data from a free, online sexual health service in Essex, UK that enabled users to select their tests. The service website provided information on all sexually transmitted infections, recommended a testing package based on sexuality and ethnicity, and invited users to modify this if they chose. Data on orders were analysed for the 6 months before (May-October 2016) and after (October-April 2017) implementation.
resultsWe compared 7550 orders from 6253 users before and 9785 orders from 7772 users after implementation. There was no difference in the proportion of chlamydia (p=0.57) or gonorrhoea (p=0.79) tests that were positive between the two periods. HIV and syphilis positives were too few in our sample during both periods for analysis. During implementation, men who have sex with men (530 users) were offered genital, rectal and oral chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing plus HIV and syphilis testing. In 17.2% of orders, users removed tests. Black or ethnic minority users excluding those who reported as men who have sex with men (805 users) were offered chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV testing. In 77.9% of orders, users added a test. All other users were offered chlamydia and gonorrhoea tests only. In 65.2% of orders, users added tests. We observed a reduction in orders of 3083 blood tests (31%).
conclusionUsers engaged with the 'choose to test' intervention. Although a majority added tests, the intervention was cost saving by reducing the HIV and syphilis tests ordered.
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