Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40977459›Full record

ArticleThe Australian journal of rural health2025

Implementing an Online Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Service for Young People in Regional and Rural Victoria, Australia: Insights From Local Public Health Authorities.

Lauren Ware, Mitchell McGrath, Oliva Walsh, Ethan T Cardwell, Jane Tomnay, Dave Evans, Anne-Marie Kelly, Jason J Ong, Jane S Hocking, Fabian Y S Kong and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Australian journal of rural health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
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

11 authors.

Lauren WareMelbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0009-0009-4075-0758
Mitchell McGrathMelbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Oliva WalshMelbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Ethan T CardwellMelbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Jane TomnayCentre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Dave EvansCentre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Anne-Marie KellyCentre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Jason J OngMelbourne Sexual Health Centre, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
Jane S HockingMelbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Fabian Y S KongMelbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Teralynn LudwickMelbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

Funding

National Health and Medical Research Council 2006486
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study investigated local public health authorities' perspectives on implementing a new online STI testing service for young people in regional/rural Victoria, Australia.

settingStudy was conducted to support the design of Test it, a free, online STI testing service being developed for Victoria. After completing an online registration and sexual health questionnaire, users receive an electronic test request form to take directly to a pathology centre without seeing a general practitioner (GP).

participantsTen individuals responsible for the coordination of community sexual health services within 7 Victorian Local Public Health Units (LPHUs) and the Department of Health, and a state-wide health promotion organisation.

designSemi-structured interview topics covered: attitudes towards online STI testing, advantages and challenges of online STI testing for regional and rural communities, and strategies to support effective implementation.

resultsParticipants were enthusiastic about the potential of an online STI testing service, perceiving it to offer options in settings with limited sexual health providers, provide users with greater anonymity (bypassing GPs), improve efficiency, and support LPHUs to deliver their priorities. However, needing to attend a pathology service in-person may reduce appeal and create barriers given limited transport/opening hours and stigmatisation concerns by young people. Navigating treatment, if needed, may also be challenging.

conclusionDespite offering advantages, regional/rural young people are likely to encounter barriers to online STI testing that are different from and more significant than those faced by young people in urban areas. Strategies are needed to support implementation in regional/rural areas to realise the full potential of online testing to improve equitable access for underserved communities.

Indexed as

InternetMass ScreeningRural Health ServicesSexually Transmitted DiseasesAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleRural PopulationSurveys and QuestionnairesVictoriaYoung AdultAustraliadigital health servicequalitative studySTI screeningyouth

Identifiers

PMID40977459
PMCPMC12451655

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.