title: Clinching the contacts: a tale of two audits before and after the introduction of a contacts' clinic.
abstract: Contact tracing outcomes were good (0.8 contacts per case) at the Plymouth genitourinary (GU) medicine clinic when it was a 'walk-in' service. After moving to an appointments-only service, less than 0.5 contacts were seen. From October 2004, we introduced weekly contacts' clinics, which provided early appointments for partners of chlamydia-positive patients. We undertook audits of contact-tracing outcomes before (2004) and after (2005) the introduction of the contacts' clinics. Before, in 2004, 0.46 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36-0.56) contacts per case were seen within four weeks of the initial partner notification interview. After, in 2005, 0.66 (95% CI 0.57-0.75) contacts were seen within four weeks (P=0.005). Partner notification outcomes were significantly associated with follow-up (P<0.001). There was no difference in success whether the follow-up was by re-attendance or by telephone. This simple change in the clinic schedule has allowed the specialty's evidence-based National Outcome Standards to be met.
authors.affiliation: GUM Department, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, UK. Bhavin.Raval@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Bhavin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Raval
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Challenor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D016358:Contact Tracing / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012747:Sexual Partners; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology