Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37695644›Full record

ArticleJMIR formative research2023

A Web-Based, Mail-Order Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Program: Qualitative Analysis of User Feedback.

Abagail Edwards, Aries Nuño, Christopher Kemp, Emily Tillett, Gretchen Armington, Rachel Fink, Matthew M Hamill, Yukari C Manabe

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR formative research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact, top 89% of its field
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

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.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed, 0 citations in OpenAlex.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Abagail EdwardsCenter for Indigenous Health, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1714-628X
Aries NuñoCenter for Indigenous Health, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8561-6753
Christopher KempCenter for Indigenous Health, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1231-1546
Emily TillettCenter for Indigenous Health, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8404-8531
Gretchen ArmingtonDepartment of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5976-6471
Rachel FinkDepartment of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5773-6852
Matthew M HamillDepartment of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1277-819X
Yukari C ManabeDepartment of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8619-5598
Johns Hopkins University · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is increasing in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant reductions in access to health care services, including STI testing and treatment, leading to underreporting of STI cases and a need for alternatives to clinic-based testing. Moreover, concerns around confidentiality, accessibility, and stigma continue to limit access to clinic-based STI testing, particularly for high-priority populations. IWantTheKit (IWTK) is a web-based platform that mails free, confidential, self-administered sample collection kits for testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia (both genital and extragenital sites), and vaginal trichomonas. Individuals visiting the IWTK website may select genital, pharyngeal, and rectal samples for chlamydia and gonorrhea testing. Vaginal samples are tested for trichomoniasis. Self-collected samples are processed in a College of American Pathologists-accredited laboratory, and results are posted to an individual's secure digital account.

objectiveThis study aimed to (1) describe users' experience with the IWTK service through analysis of routine data and (2) optimize retention among current users and expand reach among high-priority populations by responding to user needs through programmatic and functional changes to the IWTK service.

methodsFree-text entries were submitted by IWTK users via a confidential "Contact Us" page on the IWTK website from May 17, 2021, to January 31, 2022. All entries were deidentified prior to analysis. Two independent analysts coded these entries using a predefined codebook developed inductively for thematic analysis.

resultsA total of 254 free-text entries were analyzed after removing duplicates and nonsensical entries. Themes emerged regarding the functionality of the website and personal experiences using IWTK's services. Users' submissions included requests related to order status, address changes, replacement of old kits, clinical information (eg, treatment options and symptom reports), and reported risk behaviors.

conclusionsThis analysis demonstrates how routine data can be used to propose potential programmatic improvements. IWTK implemented innovations on the website based on the study results to improve users' experience, including a tracking system for orders, address verification for each order, a physical drop box, additional textual information, direct linkage to care navigation, and printable results. Web-based, mail-order STI testing programs can leverage user feedback to optimize implementation and retention among current users and potentially expand reach among high-priority populations. This analysis is supported by other data that demonstrate how comprehensive support and follow-up care for individuals testing positive are critical components of any self-testing service. Additional formal assessments of the IWTK user experience and efforts to optimize posttesting linkage to care may be needed.

Indexed as

direct-to-consumer screening and testingfeedbackHIVsexually transmitted infectionSTItesting programuserweb-basedweb-based systems

Identifiers

PMID37695644
PMCPMC10520762
OpenAlexW4385320669

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.