OBJECTIVES In this paper we examine Chlamydia trachomatis testing in settings other than genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics, focusing on the factors associated with chlamydial infection and with postal testing. METHODS Analysis of tests collected from young people aged 13-25 years (n = 4475) between May 2001 and June 2004 via postal testing kits, at a local sexual health clinic, and at furt...

OBJECTIVE To assess the feasibility and acceptance of a postal survey to measure human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and monitor vaccine impact, using self-taken specimens from young women who do not attend their first cervical screening appointment. METHODS Focus groups informed the survey design identifying factors that would influence acceptability. Postal testing kits were sent to a nat...

BACKGROUND Loss to follow-up in randomised controlled trials reduces statistical power and increases the potential for bias. Almost half of all trials fail to achieve their follow-up target. Statistical methods have been described for handling losses to follow-up and systematic reviews have identified interventions that increase follow-up. However, there is little guidance on how to develop pra...

Background: Loss to follow-up in randomised controlled trials reduces statistical power and increases the potential for bias. Almost half of all trials fail to achieve their follow-up target. Statistical methods have been described for handling losses to follow-up and systematic reviews have identified interventions that increase follow-up. However, there is little guidance on how to develop pr...

156 British Journal of General Practice, March 2015 BaCkground and advantages over exIstIng teCHnology A variety of home-use faecal occult blood testing (FOBt) kits remain commercially available to UK patients despite caution regarding their safety and accuracy. FOBt is a relatively non-invasive and inexpensive test. The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) and the majority of European s...

Background: To determine if postal testing kits (PTK) and patient delivered partner therapy (PDPT) for managing sexual partners of women with Chlamydia tracho-matis, reduce re-infection rates in women, compared to partner notification by patient referral. Materials and Methods: Three hundred and thirty women testing positive for chlamydia, at clinics for genitourinary medicine, family planning ...

OBJECTIVES This pilot test assessed the feasibility of a cost effective population based approach to STI monitoring using automated telephone interviews, urine specimen collection kits sent out and returned by US Postal Service mail, and monetary incentives to motivate participation. METHODS 100 residents of Baltimore, MD, USA, completed an automated telephone survey and agreed to mail in a u...

Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been spread in 213 countries and created an emergency situation around the world.A is a group of single-stranded RNA enveloped viruses that causes sever...